Schools Broadband Access Programme
In a joint agreement between the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources the Department of Education & Science, and the Telecommunications & Internet Federation ( a grouping within IBEC), a three-year, €18 million joint Government/TIF fund has been established to resource the provision of high speed broadband connectivity to all primary and post primary Schools in the country by early 2006 .
Heanet will provide the backbone network and provision of a secured, managed schools network. NCTE is also involved in ongoing training and education in relation to the use of ICTs in the classroom.
The Broadband for Schools Programme will improve and ensure:
- access to global information sources;
- enhanced communication and collaboration between school communities, at home and abroad;
- a seamless transition from second level to third-level education;
- the skills required for competitiveness of the economy; and
- the inclusion of geographically remote schools .