EB / News / Finance / £50m to transform EdTech within all Welsh state schools
£50m to transform EdTech within all Welsh state schools
EB News: 19/07/2019 - 10:08
Local authorities in Wales are set to receive £50 million to upgrade Education Technology (EdTech) equipment within schools.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams announced the funding, deemed the single biggest digital investment programme for schools in Wales, to expand Hwb, the Welsh Government programme for improving the use of digital technology for teaching and learning in schools.
The funding will be used to equip schools with the new EdTech equipment and gain a greater understanding of Wales’ digital infrastructure, ensuring all schools are working towards the Education Digital Standards and laying the foundations for a sustainable digital education infrastructure.
Williams said: “I am pleased to announce this additional fund of £50 million to raise the quality of EdTech equipment within our schools. This funding provides us with the opportunity to deliver a more sustainable EdTech model for schools, with local authorities working collaboratively to ensure consistency across Wales.
“The money will also guarantee that schools are better equipped to embrace the changes brought about by the new Curriculum for Wales, and further demonstrates our commitment to digital learning, highlighting the importance technology plays within education. This is about more than just buying new bits of kit. The programme will transform how our local authorities and schools approach digital delivery, ensuring our children are digitally provisioned well into the future.”
New data from The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) finds that around two-thirds of businesses believe a two-week block of work experience is too time-consuming and offers too little benefit.
The Youth Sport Trust has launched its latest Class of 2035 Report, warning that unless urgent action is taken to increase physical activity among children, this generation will face poorer health and outcomes.
The Education Committee has launched a new inquiry to understand how reading can be nurtured, and what its benefits are, amid a decline in the number of children reading for pleasure.