Richard Wynne MP

Students at almost 340 of Victoria’s largest Government schools are surfing the internet at lightning fast speeds, thanks to a major broadband internet upgrade announced today by Education Minister Bronwyn Pike.

State Member for Richmond, Richard Wynne, visited North Fitzroy Primary School today with Ms Pike who said uploading podcasts and downloading multimedia will be a breeze for students at 79 of Victoria’s biggest Government schools when their broadband internet speed is increased from 10 to 50 megabits per second.

“The Brumby Labor Government’s $89 million VicSmart initiative has already seen 259 large Government schools have internet speeds increased from 10 Mbps to 20 Mbps, meaning students now have faster access to cutting edge digital information,” Ms Pike said.

“That means that 338 Victorian Government schools will have their broadband internet speeds doubled or increased five-fold.

“Students will be better equipped to interact over the internet and engage in face-to-face collaborations with students from all over Australia or around the world.

“Victoria’s students want faster internet, so the Brumby Labor Government is investing in technology to ensure every student in a large school has fast and uninterrupted internet access.

“More students online means more demand on a school’s broadband network, which is why the Brumby Government is working to give every student fast and uninterrupted access to the web.”

Ms Pike said the broadband upgrade was just one of many Brumby Labor Government initiatives to improve technology at Government schools.

“This year we are investing more than $150 million on information and communication technologies at Victorian Government schools,” Ms Pike said.

“We recently invested $7.5 million upgrading wireless networks across all Government primary schools, and we’re also providing free internet to Government schools this year.

“A strategic investment in school broadband is about building better schools, so children can do better at school.”

Under the VicSmart initiative, schools with more than 500 students will have their internet speed boosted from 10 Mbps to 20 Mbps and schools with more than 1000 students will be upgraded from 10 Mbps to 50 Mbps.