The majority of Canadian principals feel
that most of their teachers don't have
the tools they need to teach information
technology, according to a report
released Thursday.
The Statistics
Canada report also said only less than
one-quarter of school computers were
running on the most recent operating
systems and almost one-third ran on low
processor speeds.
“Teachers are more than willing to
integrate that technology into learning
but funding falls short for us to
continue accessing this technology,”
said Marny Beale, Canadian Association
of Principals president.
“Principals would certainly support
more intensive training for teachers
on-site, and again that's a budgetary
issue and it's an ongoing one....
Principals are as frustrated by that
element as any teachers on staff,” she
said.
“At the same time, however, many
software applications available to
students in schools may not necessarily
require the most up-to-date operating
system to operate efficiently,” the
report added.
Teachers do possess “the required
technical skills ... for preparing
report cards, taking attendance or
recording grades,” said the report.
Ninety per cent principals agreed
that information and communication
technology was worth the investment, but
more than two-thirds said it was a
challenge to receive the sufficient
funding to purchase and maintain
technology within schools.
Ms. Beale said it can be difficult
for schools to receive technical
assistance from outside support staff.
It can take up to three to four days
for a machine or computer to be repaired
when it breaks down and this can be
challenging, she said.
Computers in elementary schools are
more likely to be running on low
processor speeds and older operating
systems than those at secondary schools.
More positively, the overwhelming
majority of schools (97.7 per cent) were
hooked up to the Internet and 86 per
cent of those that are on-line have a
permanent connection.
PEI, Ontario, Quebec, and British
Columbia had the highest number of
students per computer while the Yukon
had the lowest number.
The report was based on data
collected from almost 6,700 elementary
and secondary schools in Canada.
