Gold Coast state schools do not have enough bandwidth to keep school students online

LESS than half the Gold Coast’s public schools are yet to receive a major long-promised upgrade, sparking fears local kids will fall behind the rest of the state.

GOLD Coast students are at risk of falling behind in class because most of them cannot consistently use the internet at state schools.

The Gold Coast Bulletin can reveal only 28 of the city’s 76 state schools have the band width for all classes to be online at one time.

The schools have until June 2019 to install the State Government’s Wireless Upgrade Project. The $45 million rollout equates to each Gold Coast school getting about $65,000 to update their digital infrastructure.

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Just 28 of the city’s 76 state schools have enough band width for all classes to be online at the same time.

However, the Gold Coast Bulletin has learned some schools have significantly exceeded the budget. One state school has already spent $160,000 and still only half the student population can be online at one time.

At other schools, only 10-50 students can use the internet at one time because of limited Wi-Fi capacity.

Educators warn the digital delays are a massive concern for schools as teaching and assessment moves online.

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So far over $1.823 million has been spent on the project which is only 37 per cent complete on the Gold Coast.

So far over $1.823 million has been spent on the project which is only 37 per cent complete on the Gold Coast.

While some of the newer Gold Coast schools like Picnic Creek and Pimpama Secondary College have come fully equipped with Wi-Fi and technology devices, the older schools are struggling to afford the upgrades.

Despite multiple requests, the Department of Education would not say which schools still needed the upgrades.

A Gold Coast teacher said schools may not be able to meet online assessment requirements which will come into place in 2020.

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A Gold Coast teacher said schools may not be able to meet online assessment requirements which will come into place in 2020.

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Another teacher said their school had already spent the total allocated budget and was uncertain how they could afford to supply technology such as iPads, laptops and computers for students to use.

“Our computer labs don’t have enough working computers for a whole class,” the teacher said.

“When the school was built, it didn’t come with infrastructure or Wi-Fi networks. Before the wireless updates, only 50 to 60 students could access internet at the same time.”

Queensland Education State Minister Grace Grace put the responsibility for the upgrades back on school principals.

“All state school principals are responsible for allocating funds to priority projects as required within their school,” she said.

“The remaining Gold Coast schools which have expressed an interest to upgrade their wireless network will be assessed during the end of 2018 and throughout 2019.

“The department will continue to assess applications from schools to participate in this program.”

Less than half the Coast’s state schools have got the Wi-Fi rollout.

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Professor Donna Pendergast, the Dean of Griffith University’s School of Education and Professional Studies, said it was vital classrooms reflected the changing workplaces.

“Wi-Fi access for all students at all schools is an aspirational goal that needs to be met,” Ms Pendergast said.

“Technology is a tool being used more and more in classrooms that gives our students access to certain things and developing a digital literacy to ready them for the workplace.

“Schools are coding in classes, students are using their own devices, exams like the NAPLAN are being taken online.”

Wi-Fi is a goal which must be met say education experts.

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said the rollout had been bungled.

“It appears that Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor have bungled another IT rollout, this time in our schools.

“Queensland students and teachers need access to modern technology such as Wi-Fi to ensure they can have a world-class education.

“It’s taking far too long to implement this important program and it seems that increased bureaucracy is making things harder than it needs to be.

“These programs help our teachers plan engaging lessons and ensure our kids’ education can benefit from the latest technology.”