Computers in Schools deadline doubts
17 Aug 2011
Media release Labor’s claim that the computers in schools programme is on schedule to finish in December 2011 has been thrown into doubt today by a leaked Council of Australian Governments document.
According to reports, the leaked COAG document was compiled by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and indicates the roll-out of computers in schools is well behind schedule.
“Schools Minister, Peter Garrett insisted just last month that the computers in schools programme was on schedule to finish in December 2011,” said Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education.
“Mr Garrett needs to come clean and admit when the programme will really finish. This looks like another broken election promise,” Mr Pyne said.
“The original commitment made by Kevin Rudd in 2007 was that Labor would buy 1,000,000 computers, costing $1 billion, to be delivered to students between years 9-12 by December 2011,” he said.
“Since that time the Computers in Schools programme has blown out to $2.4 billion and suffered massive delays. Mr Garrett recently admitted only 55 per cent of the promised computers had been delivered, yet he maintains the programme is on schedule.
“Now it appears that the Prime Minister’s own department has refuted his claims. Mr Garrett’s incompetence knows no bounds. If the computers in schools programme doesn’t reach the December target, then Mr Garrett should resign,” Mr Pyne said.
August 17, 2011
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Adam Howard
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