§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what percentage of teachers have taken up the Computers for Teachers Initiative in England since its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the benefits of the scheme. [118702]
§ Mr. WillsTo date the DfEE has received some 9,000 applications under this initiative since its launch on 12 January 2000. This represents some 2.3 per cent. of teachers in England in the first three months of the scheme. This initiative is one of a series of initiatives to increase access to computers by teachers and headteachers.
The major financial incentive of up to £500 subsidy on the purchase of quality assured and high specification computer packages will encourage teachers to participate fully in the Information Age. Teacher competence and confidence in their personal use of ICT should be raised as take-up will be conditional on undertaking training in ICT use in the classroom available to teachers through the New Opportunities Fund. This in turn will benefit their approach to the use of ICT in the classroom. In this way, standards will be raised across all subjects, and school administration and management will be improved.