The Auditor General has released its report into the Digital Education Revolution (DER) Program.

 

The report found, in its administration of the National Secondary Schools Computer Fund (the Fund), the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations has established and maintained sound administrative and payment arrangements and effective monitoring and reporting on program delivery and outcomes.

 

The report found that the Department has effectively administered funds for each of the application rounds, on-costs, and in relation to payments under bilateral and funding agreements with government and non-government education authorities respectively. 

 

The report acknowledges the significant achievement by the Department in quickly establishing efficient and inclusive processes to implement the Fund.

 

According to the report, good progress has been made in implementing the Fund, with 97 per cent of schools achieving the computer to student ratio of 1:2 in Round 1 and 80 per cent of schools achieving the 1:2 ratio in Rounds 2 and 2.1 in advance of the March 2011 deadline.

 

The Auditor General’s report also indicates that the Fund is having a positive impact on teaching and learning within schools with a survey of school principals highlighting that students are becoming more engaged due to their increased access to computers.

 

The Auditor General’s main recommendations focus on reporting obligations for future DER funding agreements and strengthening external reporting on performance to stakeholders.

 

The Department agrees with the recommendations and has begun work implementing them.

 

Further information on the Digital Education Revolution is available at: www.digitaleducationrevolution.gov.au.