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The 2008-09 Budget ensures the Rudd Government’s Digital Education Revolution is secured into the future with an additional $200 million to be delivered in 2011-12. This additional funding means that $1.2 billion will be spent on Digital Education over the next five years.

The Government is delivering on its election commitment to provide Year 9-12 students with access to world class information and communication technology (ICT).

As promised, round one of the National Secondary School Computer Fund will deliver $100 million in funding to schools most in need of new computers by June 2008. The second round of applications will open in July 2008.

As part of the $1.2 billion investment:

• This Budget delivers the Government’s $100 million commitment to support the deployment of fibre connections to Australian schools, delivering broadband speeds of up to 100 megabits per second.
• The Rudd Government will provide $32.6 million over two years to supply students and teachers across Australia with online curriculum tools and resources for the classrooms of the 21st century.

Assistance will also be available to schools to make the best use of ICT with the development of support mechanisms, with funding of $10 million over three years.

Through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), the Government will continue to work in close partnership with state and territory governments and non-government education systems to jointly implement the Digital Education Revolution.