Mayo schools receive €1.6m to support ICT infrastructure

MAYO schools are to receive €1.6m in grants to spend on ICT infrastructure, Deputy Alan Dillon has confirmed.

The Minister for Education, Norma Foley, has confirmed that primary and post-primary schools in the county are set to receive grants in early December for the purchase of key technology such as PCs, laptops, tablets and projectors. The grant can also be spent on Cloud-based tools and software applications to support learning.

The 161 Mayo primary schools are set to receive €876,592, while the 26 secondary schools in the county will receive €712,027.

Said Deputy Dillon: “This funding, including €10m for Covid-19 specific measures, will allow schools to put in place robust systems to enable the use of digital technologies within the school, and also provide for remote learning. Those measures can include the purchase of digital devices to loan to students and teachers, software, essential learning platforms and other ICT solutions as determined by the needs of the individual school.

“It will be paid on an automatic basis to every recognised school in the country.

“There is little doubt that the potential and importance of digital learning and the use of digital technologies has come into sharper focus in light of recent experiences. Digital learning is an essential component of a modern curriculum, and this funding will help schools to equip their students with the skills and competencies they will need to thrive.”

He continued: “This year’s extended period of school closure has served to underscore the immense value of education and its power in our children and young people’s lives. Investment in education is one of this government’s top priorities.”