Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

More funding for school computers

Victorian Government schools will receive an additional $10.4 million to purchase new computers.

The funding will see a further 23,400 computers purchased for student use; bringing to $20 million the total allocation of funds over the past 6 months.

This will take to more than 100,000 the number of computers available for student use.

Under the One for Three Computer Subsidy program, the State Government is committed to achieving a ratio of one computer to every five students by June of 2000.

When the program was introduced in 1996 it was envisaged that $20 million would be available over four years. Because of the popularity of the program, the Government will make more than $35 million available.

Although most of the money provided by schools is Government funding through School Global Budgets many schools, recognising the value of the subsidy program, have contributed additional locally raised funds.

In the event the subsidy round is over subscribed schools with the greatest need are given priority.

An analysis of the distribution of funds for the period 1998/99 showed that schools in Melbourne's northern and western suburbs and country Victoria received the highest level of funding per student.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Education, April 20, 1999)