Source: The Mercury, 31 January 1995, p. 9 Source: The Mercury, 31 January 1995, p. 9
MANY Australians believe
schools are failing to provide
students with adequate com-
puter and technology-related
education, a magazine sur-
vey published yesterday in
Sydney says.
Computer Living editor
Sue Ashton said 94 per cent
of the 4132 readers polled
believed schools should offer
more computer courses.
And 82 per cent called for
schools to make a greater
investment in technology.
One of the respondents is
quoted as saying: "Funding
for education is at an all-
time low and Australian
schools are really feeling the
pinch - many teachers have
not had computer training
and quite a few suffer from
technophobia.
"Australian children are
missing out on the technol-
ogy that is shaping our eco-
nomic future."
Ms Ashton added: "Our
readers are aware of the
huge impact computers are
having on their daily lives
but they are worried because
they don't see that emphasis
reflected in their children's
education.
"Parents living in country
areas expressed particular
concern that the smaller
more isolated schools were
being left behind."
However, a spokeswoman
for Education Minister Vir-
ginia Chadwick's office said
the survey results were not
true for New South Wales
which was leading the nation
in computer education.
"Funding is at an all-time
high in NSW, a record high.
NSW has taken the ratio to
one computer for every 19
students, which is the best
ratio in Australia," she said.
AAP
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