A contract award notice published today shows the costs associated with the purchase of a second tranche of i-pads for Scottish Borders schools will total £1,653,750.
It is part of a near £16 million project over ten years which will see the cash-strapped Scottish Borders Council - already forced to make damaging expenditure cuts to front line local government services - buying 9,000 tablets for pupils in the 11-17 age range with 6,500 of the i-pads due to be handed out this month. The supplier is Glasgow-based XMA.
Text which can be read on XMA's website says: "Through the newly approved digital education strategy, XMA are thrilled to be partnering with Apple and CGI to deliver every child aged 11 to 17 in the Scottish Borders Council an iPad. This strategy has been named “The Inspire Learning Programme”. During the early stages of this programme’s planning phases, XMA partnered with Apple to run a number of demos to councillors, SLT’s and teaching staff.
"This was to demonstrate the huge impact digital learning is
having in schools across the UK, and we worked closely with the Scottish
Borders Council to build a digital education strategy that would change the
face of education across the Borders. It was widely recognised that this
programme is not about handing iPads to children. With a new age of digital
learning, and a future that is becoming more digitally orientated than ever
before, it is important to equip young people with the knowledge and skills
they need to develop their future careers.
"This programme is also about investing
in teachers and empowering them to use technology to positively change the way
they deliver their lessons. Digital technology will allow them to maximise
every student’s learning potential and opportunities, as well as contribute to
their own professional development.
"This is an incredibly rewarding programme for XMA to be a part
of, and XMA are playing a key role in deploying these iPads across the Borders.
"Our Scotland Business Unit Director said, “It’s an exciting
time to be a pupil or a teacher in the Borders and this project addresses the
nationwide challenge of attainment, pupil equity and the digital skills gap. As
the National Framework provider for Scottish Procurement, XMA are delighted to
be partnering with CGI, Apple and SBC to help deliver this truly
transformational project.”.
According to XMA an estimated 6,500 iPads will be rolled out from this August
to all high school pupils and then to 2,500 pupils in P6 and P7 next year.
In future years iPads will be shared among 5,700 P1 to P5
pupils. "XMA look forward to watching how young children’s education will thrive
through the use of iPad."
The project will cost £15.7 million over a 10-year contract with
American technology giant Apple, Canadian firm CGI and XMA.
The hugely expensive project attracted widespread criticism from local taxpayers when it was approved by councillors early this year. But the concept has been strongly defended by council leader Shona Haslam.
With regards to teacher training time, Ms Haslam said: “Time
has been set aside in the work time agreement for the first year of deployment
of five hours dedicated training per teacher. More time will be set aside for
training each year. These sessions are
to be scheduled in non-contact time and no additional cover requirement, or
costs is expected. Inspire learning is seen as a way of enhancing the process
of teaching and learning, it is not envisaged that there will be a requirement
for teachers to transfer existing materials in bulk."
When the learning programme was announced Councillor Haslam declared: "We’re really excited about the impact it’s going to
have in the poverty attainment gap, as well as for additional needs students.
Quite often in classrooms, additional needs students are the odd ones out
because they’re sitting with their iPads. That will now no longer be the case.’
"Despite being faced with significant financial challenges, this
administration is presenting a really exciting budget for the Borders, packed
with huge investment plans at a truly vital time for our economy."
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