§ Mr. SelousTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to reduce the administrative burden on teachers and cost to schools of the New Opportunities Fund training. [6547]
§ Mr. TimmsThe New Opportunities Fund ICT teacher training is being provided to ensure that serving teachers feel confident and are competent to teach using ICT within the curriculum. The effective use of ICT in the classroom will reduce rather than increase the burden on teachers, by equipping them to access and use a much wider range of teaching aids. The flexibility of the New Opportunities Fund programme minimises the cost to the school as the training budget itself is not charged to an individual school.