Name: CHAN, Sin Fong
Subject: Rudd's Education Revolution
Visit Time: 5/12/2007 2:44 AM
Remark:
The views and concerns expressed by many interviewees about this education revolution are appropriate and true.
Even without a laptop computer or abacus, Kevin Rudd and his team should be able to work out how much the so-call education revolution will cost the taxpayers. For example, a laptop computer plus basic software worth $1,500 for 100,000 students from year 9 to year 12 in a year will cost a grand total one hundred and fifty million dollars ($150,000,000). Need I go further?
Is there any restriction on how many laptop computers can a student claim throughout year 9 to year 12? If there is none, the students will be able sell the computers and pocket a very healthy profit each year, since the computers do not cost any money to the students.
Computers are just tools, and will not make the students smart. I have been working in the computer field for over thirty-five years, and I don’t think I am super smart. As a teacher in many disciplines, I can conclude that the computers make it easier for students to plagiarise, and make them bad spellers because they rely completely on the spell checker.
Once the students have laptop computers, they will be able to access school Intranet or Internet web sites related to their study. Will they not use them to chat with their friends or strangers, visit what’s hot and pop web sites, play games and download songs and movies? They could be spending their time in doing something more productive instead.
There are a lot of other related unwilling expenses. The schools need to upgrade the computer network systems, the parents will have to pay for more expensive Internet plan, last but not least, the Rudd’s government will have spend more to introduce higher speed broadband than what originally intended.
When teachers put their blood, sweat and tears course / lecture notes on the Intranet, they are digging their own graves! Many students without the presence of teachers, including off-campus or online study students can use the material. This is one of the reasons how education institutions can replace their full-time staff by sessional teachers. TEACHERS BEWARE!
Kevin Rudd did not submit this education revolution promise to be costed by the Treasury before the election, and many voters thought this would not matter!
If we extend Kevin Rudd’s ideal further, students studying science subjects such as chemistry and physics may get a rebate for setting up laboratories at home in the future. Sweet dreams!
