Broadband access is not up to scratch in many schools across the country, it has been suggested.

According to the Irish Independent, unions and politicians are calling for the Department of Education to improve facilities.

Fine Gael education spokesman Fergus O'Dowd said the government is failing students.

The publication noted that just two per cent of the country's schools have high-speed broadband access, despite the fact that Ireland is being promoted by the government as an "innovation hub".

"There is no point in talking about bringing together leading-edge ideas and technologies if schools lack the basics," the Irish National Teacher's Organisation stated.

It added that many homes have better connectivity than schools.

Research carried out last year revealed that nearly one in three 15-year-old schoolchildren say they have never taken computer lessons at school.

Of those polled, just 48 per cent use computers on a daily basis. This is below the average for countries which are members of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development.

Posted by Donal Walsh

Comments