Council deal to give pupils free tablets
EVERY pupil from P6 up will get a free tablet device.
The city council has agreed a new IT contract to source the “digital revolution” in the city.
The council says the move will transform education in Glasgow and help tackle inequality by ensuring all pupils are equipped with the latest technology.
The new system to take effect from April 1 next year.
As well as the tablet for thousands of pupils, there will be wi-fi in every classroom.
Political Correspondent EVERY pupil from P6 up will get a free tablet device under a new IT contract to be agreed by the council.
Council leader, Frank McAveety, said it was a “digital revolution” in the city which will transform education in Glasgow and help tackle inequality by ensuring all pupils are equipped with the latest technology.
The deal with private firm CGI will see a seven year contract for all the council’s IT services.
The new system, to take effect from April 1 next year when the current contract, a partnership with Serco, runs out, is promised to create the best digital learning environment in the country.
As well as the tablet for thousands of pupils, there will be wi-fi in every classroom with all pupils able to use their own devices.
Mr McAveety said: “Glasgow Labour is determined that no child in Glasgow will be left behind in the classroom because of their circumstances at home.
“This is tackling inequality in action. While others like to use warm words when it comes to tackling inequality, Glasgow Labour gets on with the day job of delivering.”
Mr McAveety added it was a “groundbreaking deal” which would benefit pupils, businesses and peo- ple across Glasgow.
The deal will also have implications for health, jobs and training and customer service.
The package will include a deal to see software development training for 100 long-term unemployed people every year for the seven years of the contract.
And at least 25% of all contract spend is going to local small and medium-sized businesses.
Health services are expected to benefit from increased capacity for data analysis to improve early interventions allow new methods of delivering care, especially for people at home.
The plan to outsource was agreed by the council late last year and the business case for the deal with CGI is expected to be approved by the council’s executive committee next week.
Annmarie O’Donnell, Glasgow City Council Chief Executive, said it would break the digital divide in the city.
She said: “We believe we can transform digital services across Glasgow.
“Redesigning our IT provision presents the opportunity to put the service at the heart of securing world-class digital learning in our schools - and at the forefront of breaking down the city’s digital divide.”
The plans to outsource to CGI have been controversial with SNP and Green councillors opposed and unions threatened strike action when it was first agreed.
The opposition councillors said the plans were “rushed” and called them in for scrutiny last year.
The council said the IT contract has already been outsourced in 2008 when it entered a partnership deal with Serco.
The new deal will see the jobs, pensions and pay and conditions of current staff guaranteed.
The council said that those staff who are currently seconded to Access, the partnership with Serco, could retain that status and remain employees of Glasgow City Council.
Canadian-owned CGI already has an office in the city centre employing 170 people which it plans to expand.
It currently has a similar IT contract in place with with Edinburgh City Council.