Teachers fear introducing computers into classrooms as many schools lack adequate technical assistance, maintenance and training.

While the ratio of computers to students is improving, the gap between funding for PCs and funding for support services remains wide. In New South Wales that disparity has been highlighted by a government-commissioned report released yesterday on technology use by state-run primary and secondary schools.

While 65 percent of government expenditure has been on implementing computers with only 35 percent of funding spent on technology advisers, training, curriculum support and computer coordinator allowance. The report, Computers in Schools for Teaching and Learning, referred to unnamed experts who recommended that at least 45 percent of funding should be spent on technical support and training.

The research also indicated that most teachers do not use computers effectively, with many expressing a fear of running into software and hardware problems due to the lack of resources.

"The maintenance, support and training of teachers in schools is the main problem, whereas the PC is just the tip of the iceberg," IDC analyst Bernard Esner said of the report's findings.

Unsurprisingly, use of computers varies according to the wealth of school localities. The report showed that country, rural and isolated areas were worse off than their metropolitan counterparts.

However, the state government is showing that it wants to support IT education in Australia with more than AU$11.6 billion to be applied to education and training and a shipment of 25,000 computers is on its way according to a follow-up report to be released by IDC.

Interestingly, primary schools are using computers more effectively than secondary schools. According to the report, secondary teachers may assume the mere existence of the subject Computer Studies will provide students with sufficient exposure to technology, "relieving teachers of the responsibility for using computers in teaching and learning."

As outlined in the report, the government has committed to providing funding for the training of a further 25,000 teachers.

The government also wants to reduce the student to computer ratio in public schools -- currently eight students per computer. This is forecast to reduce to seven by the year 2002. However, the report recommends that one computer for five students would be better and that "a substantial body of experts (are) calling for lower ratios."

Victoria currently claims leadership of the computer-to-student ratios, as the state has an average of less than five machines per student according to research from the Victorian Department of Education and Training.

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