Parents raise concerns about mandatory student devices

Some parents of students attending Athlone Community College have raised concerns about the introduction of mandatory digital devices which have become a required purchase for each student starting fifth year at the school this September.

It's understood that the cost to parents is approximately €680 per device, and that the devices must be purchased by the end of next month for delivery to students in August.

Last month, parents at the school received a letter from principal Lisa O'Kennedy updating them on the planned introduction of "personal digital devices" for all incoming fifth year students.

An information evening on the initiative was then held late last month and a number of concerns were raised by parents in attendance.

Representatives of the school's patron body, Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) were among those present to speak to parents at the meeting on April 27.

The school said the meeting also included contributions from tech company Wriggle on "device specifications, purchasing options and support," and from West-Midlands Credit Union on "payment and finance options".

Athlone Community College informed parents that devices should not be purchased independently of the proposed scheme, as "this could result in issues with compatibility, specifications or unnecessary expense".

The school added that students would "not be permitted to bring their own devices, as personal devices would not be managed through Wriggle or LWETB systems and therefore could not be supported, monitored, or secured in line with school and ETB policies."

"The proposed scheme aims to ensure consistency, equitable access and appropriate technical support for all students," said the school's principal in her letter to parents.

The letter from Ms O'Kennedy also said Leaving Cert reforms, and the introduction of additional assessment components, would be placing an increased emphasis "on students' ability to confidently and competently use digital technologies for learning and assessment".

A parent who contacted the Westmeath Independent about the issue criticised the requirement to purchase digital devices on behalf of all fifth years, arguing that this was unnecessary and had not been mandated by the Department of Education.

"We feel that no consultation was sought from us as parents on this decision," said the parent. "The changes to senior cycle were supposed to make education fair and accessible for all. This feels like the opposite, and at very short notice."

The parent also said that, according to the State Examinations Commission, coursework being assessed as part of changes to the Leaving Cert "must be conducted under the supervision of a class teacher, with the work authenticated by the teacher and principal," and that, as a result, the purchase of an individual device for each student was not a necessity.

We contacted Athlone Community College and the LWETB with a number of questions last week and received a brief statement in response from the LWETB on Monday. "The changes made to the Leaving Certificate and the Additional Assessment Components, which are now worth up to 40% in the final exam, require student access to ICT devices alongside schoolbooks," said a LWETB spokesperson.

"The introduction of laptops for senior cycle students reflects the reality that digital technology is now an integral part of education and is an essential step to ensure that our students have the best possible outcomes."