Tech in education is suffering due to government cuts

Pursuing an innovative technology agenda within schools is almost impossible as a result of budget cuts, according to a number of school IT managers who were speaking at a roundtable hosted by wireless network provider Xirrus this morning.

Tom Paes, IT manager at Tomlinscote School and Sixth Form College in Frimley, said: "When the new government came in, it cut 50 per cent of the Harnessing Technology Grant in one fell swoop. That hit everybody hard."

The Harnessing Technology Grant is capital made available to local authorities and schools to support investment for technology in education.

"There was no warning of the cut and it was implemented immediately. Many schools had almost pre-spent the money from the grant, because we were expecting to get it, and suddenly it was whipped out from under us," he added.

Paes described how Surrey had been in the process of negotiating a contract for a new ISP to provide internet services for all the schools in the county and was three weeks away from signing when the cuts were made.

"The county council had planned to use the harnessing grant to pay for the new ISP and services, but instead had to find money from its own pocket to make the deal possible," explained Paes.

"In the past we would also be able test certain mobile devices or new virtual servers but, at the moment, we do not have the time or funding. We are treading water in education and it's a shame because, until recently, technology in education had been very well funded".

Alan Brown, head of ICT at Thanet College in Kent, agreed and said that most schools and colleges currently have to cut back on technology to the detriment of students.

"As colleges we are looking at quite substantial reductions in budget. We have to make savings of over 20 per cent within four years, with almost 10 per cent falling in year one," said Brown.

"This has had some serious ramifications; for example, most colleges have had to undergo a substantial restructure over the past six months.

"Savings have been made, but not often to the advantage of the pupils that we should be educating," he added.

Morne van Niekerk, IT manager at Preston Manor High School, argued that even though cuts were a problem, if a headteacher prioritises technology a school may still benefit from tech enhancements.

"It is down to leadership. If you have a forward-thinking head teacher that prioritises technology, you can still invest," said van Niekerk.