16 March 2001 Media Statement

Boosted study support centre for Tweedsmuir Junior High

Education Minister Trevor Mallard today announced that Tweedsmuir Junior High School would receive funding for a ICT boosted study support centre as part of a Government-Business digital opportunities partnership programme.

Trevor Mallard visited Tweedsmuir Junior High School today to make the announcement.

The Invercargill school is involved in one of four digital opportunity pilots which were announced last month by Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Two other ICT boosted study support centres will be established in Canterbury as part of the same pilot. They will offer students:

- good quality connections to the Internet;
- computers, software, and professional development;
- training, technical and student support;
- facilitated study support using ICT.

"The purpose of this pilot is to see if an ICT boost can enhance learning outcomes. The centres will be accessible to both students and the community, encouraging the concept of the 'learning community'," Trevor Mallard said.

"New Zealand has the potential to become an innovative nation leading the world in the use of modern technology but that will depend on all citizens having the opportunity to access and gain the skills to use that new technology.

"The Prime Minister and other senior Ministers, including me, started meeting with business leaders in the middle of last year to discuss practical ways which we could start to maximise access to new technology.

"The digital opportunities pilots are the start of what I hope will be an ongoing working relationship between Government and business. I'm really pleased that Invercargill is one of the first to benefit from this relationship," Trevor Mallard said.

This project is led by Telecom, in partnership with Compaq, NZ Post, Microsoft, Vodafone, Renaissance and TKI.

ENDS

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