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REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE HOLY ROSARY NATIONAL SCHOOL

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE HOLY ROSARY NATIONAL SCHOOL, WICKLOW ON SATURDAY 30 MAY, 1998

I know that Saturday on a holiday week-end isn’t exactly the ideal time to be visiting a school – and I can imagine that a lot of you might have ‘better things to do’! But for me it is a tremendous pleasure to visit Holy Rosary National School – no matter what day it is – and I am very grateful to you for inviting me to see your new computer facilities at the school.

The use of computers and advanced communications technologies in education – means that the education - as my generation knew it - has changed considerably. When I studied Law and my husband Physics at Queen’s University Belfast in the early 1970’s, the word computer was almost unheard of - and neither of knew anyone who had seen one let alone used one! John Abbot – the Director of Education 2000 in the United States – has said that, “Radical developments in information and communication technologies put learning and conventional education systems on a collision course. Learning and schooling can no longer be regarded as synonymous. Successful learners need no longer be constrained by time, place or rigid structure, nor by a curriculum with too tightly prescribed knowledge and over-standardised disciplines”. Clearly the rules have changed for all of us - with the arrival of new technologies. And Irish educators – who were an essential part of the economic renaissance that took place in Ireland over the last few decades – and who enthusiastically rose to meet the challenges that these developments meant for our education system – are once again at the front line in imparting the knowledge and skills to the new generations – so that they can ensure that Ireland is never left behind – but is right at the forefront of innovation and adaptation to the new frontiers technology breaks through with increasing speed.

The Department of Education’s Schools IT 2000 Project – is intended to bring about a national partnership involving schools, parents, local communities, third-level colleges – together with public and private sector organisations – to promote computer literacy and participation amongst pupils – and to support teachers in the development and renewal of professional skills – so that they can use Information and Communication Technologies – as part of the learning environment of the school. The sheer speed of technology’s hold over lives can be scary. It would be easy to be left behind. So this form of partnership gives everyone the support, skills and confidence to be part of the technological age.

The Wicklow IT Committee – a partnership of IT professionals, business professionals, teachers and representatives from Community Groups – and which was formed to make the Town’s submission for Telecom Eireann’s Information Age Town competition – fits in very well with the Schools IT 2000 model – and their involvement in this project at Holy Rosary National School – is a very tangible example of what can be achieved through such partnerships.

I know that this is the Committee’s first project in Wicklow town – and that they intend to equip every primary school in the area with similar facilities. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Committee on this achievement – and on their wise decision to stay together after their initial participation in the Telecom competition. I would also like to commend them on their work towards their wider objective to “promote and facilitate the incorporation of Information Technology within you community and its environs” – which involves working with Telecom Eireann to provide an access centre in Wicklow Town – that will be open to everyone in the community – and equipped with the latest multimedia PCs.

The potential of IT in communities is enormous – and you have quite rightly recognised that the key to promoting it - lies with children in schools and in their homes. It’s not hard to envisage the day when classrooms as we know them now – will be totally different – when we will have the concept of the “virtual classroom” enabled by such developments as video conferencing and multimedia technologies. The impact will have far-reaching consequences for many people – especially for those who through physical, mental or socio-economic disadvantage – have not been in a position to engage in ‘conventional’ education. These possibilities are exciting and breathtaking – and will touch all our lives.

Through your efforts in Wicklow Town and here at Holy Rosary – you are giving the children and the community a solid base from which to meet the challenges of this new environment. I would like to wish you well with your new computer room – and with your explorations in the new world of information and communications technology – which will bring you to new frontiers – and to new and exciting opportunities.