Written Question · S2W-05535 · Session 2
How it defines broadband, in the context of provision to schools; how many, and what percentage of, (a) primary and (b) secondary schools c…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines broadband, in the context of provision to schools; how many, and what percentage of, (a) primary and (b) secondary schools currently have broadband; what targets it has set in respect of the provision of broadband in schools, and when it will meet such targets.
The answer
The Scottish Executive defines broadband, in the context of schools, as a high-capacity,two-way digital link capable of supporting full-motion, interactive videoapplications. The actual bandwidth required to achieve this benchmark variesaccording to the number of concurrent users in a school. For schools, 2Mbps is generallyregarded as the minimum transmission rate for a broadband connection.
According to the most recentlyavailable Schools’ ICT Survey (September 2002), 13% of primary schools and 49%of secondary schools have a minimum connection of 2Mbps.
The Scottish Executive’s public sector broadband policy is currently beingtaken forward in two Pathfinder areas (Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland). Decisions about further implementationof schools broadband will be taken on the basis of lessons learned from thePathfinder Projects.
According to the most recentlyavailable Schools’ ICT Survey (September 2002), 13% of primary schools and 49%of secondary schools have a minimum connection of 2Mbps.
The Scottish Executive’s public sector broadband policy is currently beingtaken forward in two Pathfinder areas (Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland). Decisions about further implementationof schools broadband will be taken on the basis of lessons learned from thePathfinder Projects.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-05535 by reference.