Almost one in three Irish primary schools, have signed up to become ‘Digital Schools of Distinction’, in the first full school year of the programme.

130 schools will have been validated through the registration process by the end of the school year, with the remaining schools at various stages of a validation process that is proceeding well.

The highest number of registrations came from counties Dublin (190 schools), Cork (100 schools), Galway (50 schools) and Meath (40 schools).

HP and Microsoft have confirmed their support for 2014/15, the second year of the programme. 

In a survey of 300 Irish primary schools who have registered to take part in the programme, access to high speed broadband, IT maintenance, support and funding were identified as the major obstacles to integrating ICT in the classroom. Other findings from the research included:

• Primary school teachers were virtually unanimous (98%)  that ICT used in teaching is necessary to help prepare students to live and work in the 21st century
• 80% strongly agreed that ICT used in teaching has a positive impact on student motivation

The response to the Digital Schools of Distinction programme from primary schools has been extremely positive with 75% of teachers agreeing that the programme has created momentum in innovative and effective use of ICT tools by teachers

84% said that the programme has helped their school to focus more on ICT usage to support curriculum objectives.

The Digital Schools of Distinction programme is supported by the Department of Education and Skills in partnership with Dublin West Education Centre, the Professional Development Service for Teachers/Technology in Education, the Computer Education Society of Ireland (CESI), the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) and the Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN). Digital Schools of Distinction is delivered through a public private partnership in association with HP and Microsoft in Ireland.