Councillors are set to agree plans for a £1million wireless internet network in schools throughout Caerphilly County Borough.
The council’s cabinet is set to discuss the proposals, recommended for approval, at a meeting on Tuesday.
A report authored by the council’s assistant director for planning and strategy Tony Maher is due to be discussed by councillors.
In his report Mr Maher states the new Wi-Fi network would put schools at the “forefront of schools throughout Wales”.
He said: “Originally as part of the 21st Century Schools bid to the Welsh Government, provision was included to introduce a wireless network solution to all of CCBC’s schools. This would have had the advantage of making our schools at the forefront of schools throughout Wales. Unfortunately this bid was not approved.
“The benefits to schools of introducing this initiative would be that they could take advantage of
existing and emerging new technology e.g. Wireless laptops. This could be integrated into
curriculum activity to give more flexibility for learning, better engagement of students and
ultimately raise standards of attainment.”
Because of the original rejection by the Welsh Government to help fund the scheme, the council is hoping to pay £249,000 for the scheme out of an education underspend from 2011/12.
The remaining 75% of the cost, the report states, could be paid for by schools out of their own balances.
Any school unable to pay for the network in one go could opt to pay in instalments over three years.
After a pilot scheme in two schools, it estimates that the cost of implementing it in every school would be £992,000.
The cost would be £435,000 for secondary schools, £552,000 for primary schools and £5,000 for special schools.
WIRELESS NETWORK IMPLEMENTATION INTO SCHOOLS