Objective. To support the development of a sustainable and dependable ICT infrastructure for New Zealand schools.
Points made
- There needs to be a baseline infrastructure for all schools, including technical support and staffing entitlement as per school roll. Mandatory standards rather than recommendations or guidance or advice — a standard for ICT infrastructure for content, networks, servers. Total cost of ownership of an effective ICT infrastructure to be identified and funding provided for it. Every school in the country needs to be upgraded to the minimum standards for infrastructure as set by Ministry, then schools responsible for maintaining this minimum. Every school should have a school wide network (LAN); broadband connection should be a mandatory standard; there needs to be a recommended entry level standard for technology tools, set by Ministry
- Greater leadership needed from the Ministry of Education advising schools and setting practice standards around ICT. Ministry to provide more centrally-facilitated procurement (hardware, software, technical support). Collective bargaining on our behalf by the MINISTRY. Negotiate the deal so schools can get the best price. Responsibility for decisions on complex infrastructure decisions is centralised. Ideal connectivity involves the MINISTRY using its buying power. BUT also note: Local decision making based on common standards and quality, unbiased information about a variety of tools. Downsize MINISTRY involvement – ownership for schools.
- Schools should automatically be able to be connected to the advanced networks at no cost. There is a need for a nationally networked country. For example, cross-connected access to library network, other networks etc to provide two-way connections.
- “Barrier free” should be added to the objective; for example, ‘To support the development of a sustainable, dependable, barrier-free ICT infrastructure for New Zealand schools.’
- Roll out of classroom computers on a negotiated lease agreement, through the operations grant, as with the laptop scheme. New software increasingly defining the life of the hardware- old computers cannot run the new software. Assistance from the Ministry to support lease agreements which allows schools to update hardware at a greater rate. An increase in the maintenance grant should have a component that recognises the increased cost of the life cycle of an effective ICT infrastructure. Software distributed to school just as the school journals have been.
- Roll out of “computers” (PDAs, etc.) to all families or to every child when they enrol at school. Could be an incentive from the Ministry to support a lease agreement for students to assist them to purchase access equipment.
- Policies and processes outlining a quality assurance process, and possible an outside audit team that sets out effectiveness of the school’s total ICT infrastructure. Ministry to undertake research and accreditation process of vendors to provide guidance for boards.
- Change needs to be made to either the property code or to the class size ratios to allow classroom spaces to be able to accommodate students and the ICT equipment. Furniture – ergonomic furniture and assistance to purchase appropriate furniture for ICT technologies.
Please comment on any aspects of this ‘Infrastructure, Systems and Standards’ section.
05 October 2005
- 05:15 AM by richard
- Roll out of “computers” (PDAs, etc.) to all families or to every child when they enrol at school. Could be an incentive from the Ministry to support a lease agreement for students to assist them to purchase access equipment.
This seems a pretty strong course of action to take and would be frought with difficulty… Imagine the cost and the abuse!
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