[Oz-teachers] NSW Schools: 200,000 laptops

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Lenovo wins $150m NSW schools deal

April 1, 2009 - 11:56AM
http://www.theage.com.au/news/technology/biztech/lenovo-wins-150m-nsw-
schools-deal/2009/04/01/1238261623058.html


Chinese computer company Lenovo has won a contract to provide 200,000 
laptops for NSW secondary school students.

The NSW government has also announced agreements reached with software 
giants Microsoft and Adobe to provide an extensive suite of software for 
the laptops.

The Lenovo contract, worth $150 million, includes 25,000 laptops for 
teachers.

It will be funded as part of the federal government's $1.9 billion 
digital education program.

Premier Nathan Rees said his government would contribute $25.5 million 
for the software, which he said would cost each student more than $5,500 
if they were to purchase it in a store.

The first laptops will go to teachers so they can familiarise themselves 
with the hardware and software, before Year 9 students receive their own 
machines in term 3.

Those students will keep their computers until Year 12 and beyond if they 
complete their schooling.

If a student leaves school before finishing Year 12 they will have to 
hand the laptop back.

Year 9 students in each subsequent year will receive laptops to assist 
with their senior schooling.

Students currently in Years 10, 11 and 12 will be given one laptop 
between two students to use in class, and those computers will be in 
schools by the year's end.

"I want them in classrooms as soon as possible," Mr Rees said.

"I want kids more engaged in the classroom, turning up to school 
enthusiastic and ready to learn."

All the laptops will come with Microsoft Office Professional, giving 
students access to programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

The Adobe software includes Photoshop Elements, Premier Elements, Dream 
Weaver and Flash.

More than 400 full-time technical support staff will be employed to help 
solve any problems with the laptops.  AAP

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Cheers,
Stephen