SCHOOL WI-FAIL

Outdated technology hurts kids’ learning

GOLD Coast state school students are at risk of falling behind because most of them cannot consistently use the internet in class. The Bulletin has learnt only 28 of the city’s 76 state schools have the necessary bandwidth for all classes to learn online at one time. One school has spent $160,000 and still only has the Wi-Fi capacity for half the student population. At other schools, only 10-50 students can use the internet at once. The State Government says it is up to principals to budget for digital upgrades.

GOLD Coast state school students are at risk of falling behind because most cannot consistently use the internet in class.

The Bulletin can reveal only 28 of the city’s 76 state schools have the bandwidth for all classes to be online at one time. Schools have until June 2019 to install the State Government’s Wireless Upgrade Project.

Under the $45 million rollout, each Gold Coast school would get about $65,000 to update their digital infrastructure. However, the Bulletin has learnt some schools have significantly exceeded the budget.

One school has already spent $160,000 and still only half the students can be online at one time. At other schools, only 10-50 students can use the internet at one time because of limited Wi-Fi capacity.

So far more than $1.823 million has been spent on the project, which is only 37 per cent complete on the Gold Coast. While some of the newer schools, like Picnic Creek and Pimpama Secondary College, have come fully equipped with Wi-Fi and devices, older schools are struggling to afford the upgrades.

Despite multiple requests, the Department of Education would not say which schools still needed the upgrades.

A Gold Coast teacher said schools may not be able to meet online assessment requirements coming into place in 2020.

Another teacher said their school had already spent the total allocated budget and was uncertain how they could afford to supply technology such as iPads, laptops and computers for students to use.

“Our computer labs don’t have enough working computers for a whole class,” the teacher said.

“When the school was built, it didn’t come with infrastructure or Wi-Fi networks. Before the wireless updates, only 50 to 60 students could access internet at the same time.”

Education Minister Grace Grace put the responsibility for the upgrades back on school principals.

“All state school principals are responsible for allocating funds to priority projects as required within their school,” she said.

“The remaining Gold Coast schools which have expressed an interest to upgrade their wireless network will be assessed during the end of 2018 and throughout 2019.

“The department will continue to assess applications from schools to participate in this program.”

Professor Donna Pendergast, the Dean of Griffith University’s School of Education and Professional Studies, said it was vital classrooms reflected changing workplaces.

“Wi-Fi access for all students at all schools is an aspirational goal that needs to be met,” she said.

“Technology is a tool being used more and more in classrooms that gives our students access to certain things and developing a digital literacy to ready them for the workplace.

“Schools are coding in classes, students are using their own devices, exams like the NAPLAN are being taken online.”

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said the rollout had been bungled. “It’s taking far too long to implement this important program and it seems that increased bureaucracy is making things harder than it needs to be,” she said.