Tesco Computer Scheme Widens Digital Divide between Rich & Poor Schools
March 2, 2008 by Joe Fogarty
The Campaign for Commercial-Free Education has condemned Tesco’s “Computers for Schools” voucher scheme as exploitative and discriminatory and said it will further widen the gap between rich and poor schools as highlighted on last week’s Prime Time programme.
The Campaign of teachers and parents has rubbished Tesco’s claim that primary schools receive “Free” Computing Equipment and called for equal access to ICT for all children irrespective of their spending power.
Basic Desktop PC (rrp €525) = €232,400 worth of receipts.
R40 Samsung Laptop (rrp €758)= €348,500 worth of receipts.
Basic Samsung Digital Camera (www.tesco.com price €58.79) = €31,900 worth of shopping.
(Source: 2007 Tesco Computers for Schools Catalogue)
Campaign for Commercial-Free Education Chairperson Mr. Joseph Fogarty said “Tesco wish to capitalise on the fact that schools in the Republic have had no government funding whatsoever towards the purchase or maintenance of computers for five years. Desperate schools are tempted to do the work of company promoters and advertise Tesco to children as young as 4. Such schemes widen the “Digital Divide” between richer schools and smaller or poorer schools who cannot generate the massive revenues.”
The launch of the scheme in the Republic coincides with 20,000 new laptops being delivered to schools in Northern Ireland under a programme being rolled out by the Department of Education there.
The Campaign’s position echoes INTO policy that schools should be free from proof of purchase incentive schemes while the Irish Primary Principals Network also strongly recommends that Principals do not participate in voucher redemption schemes which use children as marketing agents.
Further Information from www.commercialfreeeducation.com or:
Niall Smyth, Vice Chairperson Campaign for Commercial-Free Education, 087 6988540
Joseph Fogarty, Chairperson Campaign for Commercial-Free Education.
