Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in schools

Ensuring that young people acquire the skills to use ICT effectively, confidently and safely is a key priority for the Department of Education (DE). This is reflected in the central role which ICT plays in the revised curriculum which is being introduced in Northern Ireland on a phased basis from September 2007.

Since 2000, DE has invested £336 million in providing the ICT infrastructure in our schools through the Classroom 2000 Project (C2k), making Northern Ireland a recognised leader in the use of ICT in education.

Recent developments include:

the ongoing renewal of primary schools’ ICT equipment;
the provision of 5,000 laptops to primary schools for computer-based pupil assessment; and
the provision in the 2007/08 school year of 20,000 laptops to all schools.

Classroom 2000 (C2k)

The C2k service provides every grant-aided school across Northern Ireland with a modern, connected ICT infrastructure.

C2k provides schools with a managed ICT service which includes:

networked computers
administration and management systems for school staff and
a high speed managed learning environment called LearningNI.

Further information on the C2k Project is available on our C2k webpage or by accessing the C2k website.

EmPowering Schools

The emPowering Schools Strategy of 2003 set out a broad vision for enhancing teaching, learning and leadership in schools through the use of educational technology. The strategy links to the eight elements of the Becta ICT Self-Review Framework which is designed to enable schools to take a whole-school approach to the use of ICT and benchmark their performance against established best practice.

In February 2008, DE commenced a review of the strategy to ensure that it remains appropriate to emerging educational needs and makes the best use of new technology.

More information is available in the emPowering Schools section.

Use of ICT in schools

Circular 2007/24 - Use of Information and Communications Technology in Schools PDF 208 KB issued to all schools in November 2007. The circular sets out the necessary actions to further the development of ICT as teaching and learning tool.

ICT safety in schools

DE has worked closely with key organisations involved in child protection to provide guidance for schools on the safe use of the Internet and other digital technologies.

The guidance is available online and links are provided to a range of information and resources for schools to use when drawing up their policies on the acceptable use of the Internet.

WiFi

Wireless connectivity will be used increasingly in schools in Northern Ireland in order to maximise the use of the new ICT equipment which is being provided. More information can be accessed in our WiFi section.