Digital resources to enhance education in Meath schools – Doherty

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty today (Friday), welcomed the launch of national ‘Switch On’ workshops, a joint initiative being undertaken by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Education and Skills.

“Ireland is the European home of Facebook, Google, Ebay, PayPal and many others. This is one area where major opportunities exist for our young graduates and this is an area where students need to be educated early on.

“The ‘Switch On’ project consists of a series of workshops which outline how schools can take advantage of digital tools and online education resources to improve the teaching and learning experience.

“There was a time when the only reference to digital media in our schools was when students were told to put their phones away in class. There is no denying that digital media and online resources are a part of everyday life, we need to provide our schools and our teachers with the know-how to harness the capabilities of our young people.

“The Action Plan for Jobs and the National Digital Strategy underline the importance of ensuring young people are equipped with the skills required for the modern economy. The launch of ‘Switch On’ will run alongside an ambitious programme that will provide all second level schools in Co. Meath with 100Mbps broadband by the beginning of the 2014 -2015 school year.

“This Government is dedicated not only to providing jobs but also to working to ensure that we have a pool of graduates ready to fill the positions. It is vital that the teachings of our schools evolve and develop as new technologies become available.”