Tech expansion in schools high on conference agenda

The huge ULearn conference in Christchurch will allow teachers to discuss technology's part in education.

The Government is to announce the expansion of technology in schools as the issue takes centre stage at an education conference starting today.

Education Minister Anne Tolley is to give a speech this morning opening the ULearn conference in Christchurch, which has attracted about 2000 delegates and 400 national and international speakers to discuss teaching and learning in the 21st century.

Mrs Tolley will call for the education system to "fully commit to the digital age", and will reinforce the Government's commitment to high-speed internet access for all New Zealanders.

She will also announce a case is being prepared for a computer network which would potentially incorporate every school in the country, allowing schools to share information at high speed and access interactive tools such as high-definition video conferencing.

A trial under way allows 23 schools to share information via the Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network.

Mrs Tolley is expected to announce this will be extended to about 200 schools by next year.

Access to technology in schools is expected to be a hot topic at the conference after a study issued last week by the Oxford Business School, focusing on internet speeds, ranked New Zealand 37th out of 66 countries tested.

CORE Education, an educational research and development organisation hosting the conference, said the report showed the need for the Government to accelerate plans for better broadband access.