§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that the local education authorities are fully equipped 370W technically and financially to provide and support the software necessary to sustain the Department of Industry's programme for micros in school.
§ Dr. BoysonThe Department is currently spending over £3 million a year on the microelectronics education programme announced in March 1980 and sponsored also by the Welsh Office and by the Department of Education, Northern Ireland. The aims of the programme are to investigate the most appropriate ways of using the microcomputer as a teaching aid and to stimulate the introduction of new elements in the curriculum such as computer studies and microelectronics in control technology. Resources are being allocated to three main fields of activity; the development of software and teaching materials; pilot courses of in-service teacher training; and the establishment of a network of centres serving groups of LEAs to exchange and disseminate software and to act as a point of reference for teachers seeking guidance on training courses and equipment. The software, teaching materials and pilot schemes which are being developed under the programme builds on work undertaken by local education authorities from their own resources and is essential to the effective use of the subsidised equipment available to schools through the Department of Industry. The scope of the microelectronics education programme is set out in the strategy paper published in April 1981. Copies are available in the Library of the House.