Computers for schools more than hardware

Last week the Deputy Prime Minister gave a radio interview saying the Australian government is not going to make a bulk purchase of computers for schools. Different schools will have different requirements, some may have laptops, some desktops and some thin clients. This is the message I had been asked to pass on to the PM's office the day before. I don't know if the Deputy PM's office read the posted message , or this was a coincidence:

"... What is happening with our computers in schools policy and it was heralded well before the election, we weren't going to sit in Canberra and say, you must have this kind of computer, you must have an Apple Mac ... Some schools do want to put a computer ... on every child's desk. Some schools want to give their children laptops. ..."

From: Radio Interview, Transcript, ABC Adelaide,830am Thursday, 21 February 2008.

But someone needs to give her a better description of a thin client:

"Some schools are using innovative technology, things called would you believe, thin clients which are little key pads which then relate to a server which is located elsewhere in the school. ..."

From: Radio Interview, Transcript, ABC Adelaide,830am Thursday, 21 February 2008.

However, the political problem for the government is that the policy still translates in the journalists mind to each child having their own computer:

"MATTHEW ABRAHAM: Will every child have their own computer?

JULIA GILLARD: We are delivering this program to senior secondary students, so its years 9 to 12 ...

DAVID BEVAN: Will every year 9 to 12 student have their own computer?

JULIA GILLARD: For years 9 to 12 there will be the equivalent to a one to one ratio but I am not telling them that they have to have it on the desk, they might have a laptop in the draw, they might have a thin client that is handed out to students to use for particular parts of the classes. They might have technology I don't even know the names of yet because it hasn't even been invented today but it is in regular distribution by four years time. ..."

From: Radio Interview, Transcript, ABC Adelaide,830am Thursday, 21 February 2008.