Teachers losing confidence in tech skills

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Fewer teachers feel competent using technology in the classroom than last year, according to a new report.

Some 75 per cent of primary school teachers said they were confident using technology with their students, down from 80 per cent last year, the research by British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) said. For secondary school teachers, the number fell from 68 per cent to 61 per cent this year.

Ray Barker, director at BESA, said: “This concern is not surprising considering the range of sophisticated technologies with which teachers now have work. Educators are recognising the need for professional development at all levels to ensure success in their classrooms. The big issue is ensuring that schools can afford to release staff to make the most of their investment.”

Nearly seven in 10 primary school teachers will get IT training of some sort this year, compared to just 59 per cent of secondary school teachers.

Over half of teachers feel well equipped with PCs, while under a third feel the same about laptops. The majority of teachers are happy with Internet access in their classrooms.

Despite this, over eight in 10 believe limited access to technology is hurting the use of ICT in their classrooms, the report said.

Barker added: “One of the key findings of the BESA research is that many schools still do not have a learning platform, or are not using them properly, despite the fact that the Government 2010 deadline for learning platforms in all schools is nearing. While provision has increased from previous years, more than 40 per cent of primary and 32 per cent of secondary schools consider themselves under-equipped.”

The report also showed that budgets for UK state schools will climb by £27 million to £614 million this year, excluding curriculum software. By 2009, the average primary school budget for IT will be about £15,850 and £68,000 for secondary schools.

Primary schools are expected to spend 12 per cent more on desktops and laptops in 2009, up to £7,300. Secondary schools will spend nine per cent more, averaging £36,000 in those areas.

Spending on system and general software will fall 3.6 per cent for primary schools, and 5.5 per cent for secondary schools, by 2009, the report predicted.

A survey released last month suggested teachers were divided over how useful the web was in helping students to learn.

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