Schools fear cost of $1b computers

JULIA Gillard has been forced to defend the Rudd Government's school computer plan after revelations schools may pay about $1 billion for software and back-up support.

The Education Minister said yesterday the Federal Government was "working in partnership" with the states and territories on the program, but had already signed off on the delivery of the first $100 million worth of computers to go to the most needy schools.

But Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson called the $1 billion program "a con".

"For every dollar of any computer delivered to the school, there's at least another $3 that will have to be spent by the parent community, or by Catholic, independent or state schools, and Mr Rudd, it's not good enough," Dr Nelson said.

Labor promised at the last election that it would give every student in years 9-12 access to their own computer.

The Federal Government will provide funding for the computer hardware and high-speed internet connections.

But the states and private schools fear they will have to find funding for the accompanying software installation, putting power points in classrooms, teacher training and back-up support.

Ms Gillard said yesterday the program was "going well", insisting a collaborative approach would deliver results.

"We are working with our state and territory colleagues," she told the Ten Network's Meet the Press.

"The discussion we are having with them is about us putting an extra $1 billion into the vital task of getting computers in schools."

Ms Gillard said in the delivery of that $1 billion, the Government was working with states and territories on related issues such as electricity supply, professional development for teachers and a curriculum embedding computer technology into learning.

"That partnership will make sure that computers are in schools in circumstances where they can be used," Ms Gillard said.

Dr Nelson said the Federal Government had seriously underestimated the extra costs of installing software, teacher training, networking, technical support and security.

Ms Gillard said $100 million of computers would be delivered by June 30, with the balance of $800 million on computers and $100 million on fibre-optic internet cables met over the four-year program.