MORE than 22,000 teachers have applied for a subsidy under the Computers for Teachers scheme in less than two months - a much faster take-up than ministers had expected.
Most have applied for the maximum rebate of pound;500 to buy computers costing at least pound;1,000.
The pound;20 million scheme, launched in January, was ex-pected to run until 2002 and help 40,000 teachers, but if demand continues at the current rate, the cash will be spent by the summer. It is unclear if the Departmentfor Education and Employment will allocate more money, but it has reserved the right to end it before 2002.
Meanwhile, seven “roadshows” are to tour the country to hear teachers’ views on how information and communications technology can help to raise standards.
The DFEE will set up a “Classroom of the Future” e-mail discussion group and website to continue the dialogue after the sessions in London, Leeds, Newcastle, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and Leicester.
