Computers scandal deepens as technology becomes obsolete
07 Nov 2011
Media release The sins of the past are catching up with Julia Gillard’s Labor Government as hundreds of thousands of computers in the computers in schools programme become obsolete, said Shadow Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne today.
“Schools Minister, Peter Garrett will have to spend additional billions to buy replacement computers or abandon the programme, like he abandoned the disastrous roof batts programme,” Mr Pyne said.
“The Victorian Minister for Education, Martin Dixon has indicated today that 105,000 laptops will become obsolete at the start of the 2012 school year in Victoria alone,” he said.
“If the Government replaces them at the current rate of $2,500 for the computer and ongoing costs, then it will cost over $250 million.
These 105,000 can be added to 220,000 computers the Gillard Government has included in the programme that were less than four years old in 2008.
“Originally Labor promised to deliver by December 2011, a computer for every one of the one million students in year 9-12, at a cost to the taxpayer of $1 billion,” Mr Pyne said.
“Dodging this commitment from day one the Government secretly surveyed how many existing computers in schools were less than four years old and added them to their tally,” he said.
“The programme objective was quietly changed from one computer for every student in year 9-12 to achieving a 1:1 ratio of computers and students, that included the 220,000 existing computers.
“Some of these computers would be pushing eight years old this year. Next year they will be the technology equivalent of a slate and chisel.
“The Government will need to find $1 billion a year to maintain this programme, in addition to the $2.4 billion already spent.
“With the programme still hundreds of thousands of computers away from achieving a 1:1 ratio, the computers in schools debacle joins the school halls programme and national curriculum in Labor’s education Hall of Shame,” Mr Pyne said.
November 7, 2011
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