13/10/2023

2,700 Digital Devices Announced For Under-Resourced Schools

Schools in under-resourced areas are set to receive some 2,700 digital devices, the Department of Education has announced.

This means almost 9,000 devices in total will have been provided to Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Special Schools and EOTAS centres by autumn 2023. By the end of this phase of the scheme, close to 240 schools will have benefitted from this significant investment across Northern Ireland.

Education Permanent Secretary Dr Mark Browne said: "Access to quality, up-to-date technology is vital for children and young people.

"These devices will support learning in the classroom as well as at home, for those children who need it most."

The devices were offered to schools, starting with those with the highest percentage of free school meals.

Dr Browne continued: "The provision of these new digital devices has been a direct consequence of 'A Fair Start' report, which focuses on addressing the negative impact that socio-economic deprivation can have on educational outcomes for children and young people.

"Actions set out in the report can make a real impact on learning for children. 'A Fair Start' is about investing in our children's future and providing them with the confidence, knowledge and skills they need to progress in life."

The Education Authority managed the delivery of the devices to schools, which was completed by September 2023.


Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

21 November 2024
UK Education Ministers Meet In Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland hosted the fifth UK Education Ministers' Council (EMC) meeting at Laurelhill Community College in Lisburn.
14 November 2024
Minister Reacts To Teachers' Union Ballot Threat
Education Minister Paul Givan has responded to the announcement by several teachers' unions that they plan to ballot their members for industrial action over 2024/25 pay. Earlier this year, the Minister provided funding to successfully resolve the long-running industrial dispute over teachers' pay for 2021-24.
11 October 2022
£1m Investment In Digital Devices In Schools
Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has announced a major £1million investment in the provision of digital devices to support children's learning. Around 4,000 devices will be provided to Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Special Schools and EOTAS centres this autumn.
07 June 2024
£3m To Be Invested In New Digital Devices For NI Schools
£3 million is to be invested to provide around 8,5000 new digital devices to replace computers in post-primary schools across Northern Ireland. Announcing the investment, Education Minister, Paul Givan, said: "Access to quality, up-to-date technology is vital for children and young people.
05 March 2009
Education Minister Drums Up Support For Integration
With over 18,000 children and young people being educated in integrated schools across Northern Ireland already, the sector has an important role to play.