New Zealand Executive Government Speech Archive

Thank you for your invitation to visit Newlands Intermediate today to open your new computer suite. I have just been next door to open the Special Care Unit at Newlands College and it is great to see the initiative taken and advancement made by schools in Newlands.

As I look around at your new computer equipment, I cannot help but notice how much things have changed since my own school days. The development of information technology has had a huge impact on education. The fact that children at Newlands Intermediate are exposed to such technology at such a young age will be of great advantage to them. If your programme really guarantees touch typing skills at the end of 10 weeks, I think Ill enrol!

It will be most interesting for me to see the satellite TV suite. I had the privilege of launching the Interactive Television Project at the Correspondence School just a few weeks ago, the source of these programmes. Now I see the other end. This is a pilot project which is an example of the Governments general commitment to develop and encourage science and technologies in schools to complement the work of teachers. It will be wonderful for the children to link up with the other 100+ schools and to have the opportunity to learn Japanese, Maori and Technology. Your satellite TV suite here will allow students to participate in the interactive programmes supplied by the Correspondence School.

There will be many benefits to students from this type of initiative. For those in remote areas it offers opportunities previously not contemplated as being available to them. By watching the programmes, students can communicate with a central studio. They can ask questions and have them answered immediately. Despite the distance, each can be actively involved in the learning process.

Young people can become much more familiar with modern technology in an enjoyable and constructive way in these kinds of projects.

In the past three years, the Ministry of Education has funded pilot projects such as the schools network using the Internet, audiographics and desktop composing. This computer suite offers a further exciting teaching aid.

I realise that the development of a unit such as this one takes the drive and enthusiasm of a few individuals. The dedication of the Board of Trustees to the modification of this classroom is to be commended. The current pupils and future pupils of Newlands Intermediate have much to be grateful for. After all, better learning is what it is all about.

This facility owes much to the vision about the impact of information technology on education. The potential impact of information technology in education cannot be overstated. I know that my predecessor, Hon Dr Lockwood Smith, visited River Oaks School in Toronto. Dr Smith was very impressed with what he saw. He spoke eloquently about it last year at our conference in Dunedin as did the principal himself through a direct satellite link up showing how effective that new technology can be in bringing people directly in touch with each other.

There are a number of New Zealand schools where similar work is going on. The Government is committed to supporting information technology in education. We have put $7.6 million towards teacher professional development in information technology since 1991.

I am very pleased to be here this morning to launch what has to be a fore runner of major new developments in the education process in New Zealand.

I have great pleasure in declaring the Newlands Intermediate School Information Centre open, and I wish you all the best for the future.