Release From NZ Intellectual Capital Foundation

MEDIACOM-RELEASE-NZINC

MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE NZ INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL FOUNDATION

The Honourable Bill English, Treasurer, had a glimpse of the future for New Zealand Schools today when he attended a cultural exchange via a real time ISDN link between Riccarton High School and St Martins Primary School in Christchurch and Dengkil Primary and Dengkil Secondary Schools in Malaysia.

In speaking with the Malaysian Minister of Education, via the link, the Honourable Bill English said the NZ Government would like to have all New Zealand schools connected to the Internet by the end of the year. "Some schools have well developed technology plans, some haven't started yet, but we are trying to bring everyone along to the same level", he says.

In commenting on Malaysia's intensive financing of its high technology industry, including education, Mr English said that New Zealand Goverment is trying to get technology into a number of schools across the board rather than targetting specific projects. "We want to get the basic things right, get the training right and get schools to see how the technology can best be used", he says."We need to establish a high standard of literacy before we can start applying technology".

The link, a first for schools in New Zealand, is the result of a joint venture between NZ Intellectual Capital Foundation (NZInC) who provided the funding to establish the technology in the Christchurch schools and Global.Net 2000 for whom the event was part of its millennium project to promote global communication and education.

The Riccarton Schools are being developed as a model by NZInC and The Riccarton School Board to encourage the application of technology in the New Zealand school curriculum and create new learning modules for use in schools throughout New Zealand.

ENDS....

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