Govt defends progress on computers for students pledge

More information has emerged about how the Government will keep its promise about computers for schools, but the Federal Opposition is sceptical about the policy.

Liberal Senator Brett Mason has questioned whether the Government will keep the pledge to provide a computer for every senior secondary student.

A Senate estimates committee has been told an audit is being done to determine how many computers are in schools now and that only those less than four years old are being counted.

Senator Mason says there are many questions about the plan for a computer for every senior secondary school student.

"What about software and software upgrades - who is going to be paying for that ... how about maintenance and repairs including batteries, power cords, bags ... who's going to be paying for those?" he said.

Dr Evan Arthur from the Education Department has told Senator Mason those costs will not be met by the Commonwealth.

"On that case the policy is reasonably clear - it is the responsibility of the people receiving the funding to meet the cost associated with the activation and maintenance of the equipment," he said.

Senator Mason has asked how the Government's promise to spend $1 billion will provide fast internet connections for every school when Victoria is spending almost as much for a slower connection just for one state.

"The Government's proposed program will cover 2,650 schools and about 1 million students but the Government's only allocated $100 million - in other words, only $11 million more," he said.

"The Government's proposal covers 80 per cent more students but only asks for 10 per cent more money."

But the head of the Education Department, Lisa Paul, says that is not a valid comparison.

"We're saying that would be an apples and oranges comparison and it can't be made, because the Victorian arrangement is part of a whole-of-Government arrangement in Victoria and covers a range of commercial and other issues which go beyond the aim of for the $100 million," she said.

Meanwhile Democrats Senator Lyn Allison is critical that the Government is not doing enough work to check that the states do not intend to reduce their spending on school computers because of the new federal money.