Local teachers to benefit from computer deal

4 November, 1998

87 teachers in the Box Hill electorate will be amongst the first to receive laptop computers as part of a $100 million Government project to expand the use of information technology and multimedia in schools.

Laptop computers are progressively to be provided to all state school teachers over the next 5 years, with the first instalment to one-third of Victoria’s teachers being provided this month.

37,000 laptop computers are being acquired for teachers over the next five years.

It is believed to be the second-largest-ever tender for laptops anywhere in the world.

Acer Computer Australia and Apple Computer Australia will share the contract, with Acer to supply 85% of the computers and Apple the remaining 15%.

Teachers will be able to lease their computer through their school under a three-year arrangement at a nominal cost of $3 per week.

The computers are intended to provide teachers with a tool of trade which will allow them to explore ways of improving educational delivery and assist with easing their administrative workloads.

Welcoming the news, the Member for Box Hill, Mr Robert Clark, said "These computers will help our teachers in giving the best possible education to children. They will make lesson preparation easier, reduce the work involved in tasks like report writing, and allow teachers to learn more about the enormous potential for teaching provided by information technology."

Teachers at all schools in the Box Hill electorate will receive laptop computers as part of the first instalment, with the allocations to each school being: