INTERNET : BROADBAND: SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES BETWEEN EUROPEAN SCHOOLS.

The European Commission published a survey on 29 September, which shows that most European schools now have high-speed broadband' internet connections, though a significant north-south divide is still a feature in the EU. The survey reveals that 96% of all schools in Europe have internet access today, and 67% already have a broadband connection. However, broadband take-up still varies widely in Europe, from about 90% of schools in Scandinavian countries, in the Netherlands, Estonia and Malta, to under 35% in Greece, Poland, Cyprus and Lithuania. In the US, 95% of public schools had a broadband connection in 2003.

LACK OF COMPUTERS

In Europe, broadband connectivity in schools tends to follow national broadband penetration rates. However, in Estonia, Malta, Slovenia and Spain the penetration of broadband in schools is already very much higher than the overall level achieved in these countries. The survey found no major differences in internet connectivity between schools in less densely populated areas and those in urban areas. However, schools in densely populated areas are more likely to have broadband than those in less-densely populated ones. This is due to lack of broadband infrastructure rather than to lower tendency to use information and communication technologies (ICT).

The number of pupils sharing computers connected to the internet ranges from 3.8-5.5 in Denmark, the UK and Luxembourg to about 19 in Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Greece, giving an EU average of 10 (to be compared with only 4 in the US - 2003 data).

Over 90% classroom teachers use computers or the internet to prepare lessons. Some 74% also use them as a teaching aid, although this again varies widely, from the UK (96%) and Denmark (95%) to Greece (36%) and Latvia (35%).

According to the survey, over 80% think that pupils are more motivated and attentive when computers and the internet are used in class, and that they have significant learning benefits. The main reason for not using ICT, as stated by about 50% of the teachers not using them, is the lack of computers, followed by claims that a subject does not lend itself to being taught with computers (24%).

Technical support and maintenance at schools needs to be upgraded, according to 75% of all teachers. However, less than half of the schools have a support or maintenance contract with a service provider. In countries where ICT are more integrated into teaching methods, most schools have a contract, the top scorer being the UK 89%, followed by the Netherlands with 69%.

The study is available at ec.europa.eu/information_society/eeurope/i2010/benchmarking/index_en.htm