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THE USE of information and communications technology (ICT) in classrooms is being given significant push with the addition of an extra 246 schools into a nation-wide professional development programme, Education Minister Trevor Mallard has announced.
By the end of this year there will be 40 clusters of schools joining the existing 43 clusters already on the national programme for professional development.
The number of schools involved in the programme since it began now totals 1044 or about 40 per cent of schools.
"This programme is benefiting thousands of students as their teachers, through the ICT clusters, become skilled at and confident with using this technology in the classroom. It's a major investment by the government, worth $9.8 million in the next financial year," Mr Mallard.
"Our government is deliberately focusing on information communications technology as one of the keys to growing a more innovative economy. Ensuring our students are equipped with 21st Century skills is a top priority for our work in education, as it has become an important and very successful tool for students' learning," Mr Mallard said.
A report, 'ICT in schools', found that ICT is making a difference to quality teaching and learning for students, with two thirds of school principals reporting that it is resulting in major improvements to the quality of curriculum delivery in schools.
"These schools are located across New Zealand and the diverse and innovative ways they have responded to the challenges of this programme are a good reminder that energy and enterprise is alive and well in helping to give all of our students a quality education," the Minister said.
The lead schools are already successfully using ICT in innovative ways to enhance learning and teaching.