A performance audit into whether the Department of Education and Training (DET) and Government schools were equipped with the information and communications technology (ICT) needed has found they had a base level of ICT infrastructure and resources.
In his Report, ICT Provisioning in Schools, Auditor-General, Andrew Greaves said that, in 2017, Victoria introduced digital technologies to the school curriculum to run alongside literacy and numeracy, and it was therefore important that all schools were equipped to deliver ICT-facilitated teaching and learning.
“However, not all schools have access to the same ICT, particularly internet speed,” Mr Greaves said.
“DET has acted to improve schools’ internet access, but its performance data shows that some schools’ internet access is below its minimum internet speed allocations,” he said.
“Most of these schools are in lower socio-economic areas.
“However, these limitations are due to existing infrastructure issues and DET is working to address them.”
Mr Greaves said DET could not be sure that the ICT infrastructure, resources and services it provided met all schools’ ICT-facilitated teaching and learning needs.
The Auditor-General said the Department’s focus had been on maintaining and enhancing its existing school ICT infrastructure and services.
Mr Greaves said it had also been working on a strategy to support digitally-enabled education and recently finalised its 10-year Digital Roadmap for Schools.
“This sets out its vision, objectives and outcomes for the first foundational stage of the roadmap,” he said.
“It is too early to determine if DET’s Roadmap will meet schools’ future needs.”
Mr Greaves made four recommendations aimed at improving ICT to meet schools’ needs; DET’s guidance and support to schools; how DET oversees schools’ ICT; and DET’s Roadmap for digitally-enabled education.
The Auditor-General’s 44-page Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
