A MOVE that would plough £885,775 into improving Monmouthshire schools’ IT will go to councillors for their approval on Thursday.

Senior councillors in Monmouthshire council’s cabinet have already agreed the plan, which looks to equalise problems in the provision of computers and other equipment across schools, particularly primary schools.

Officers said the way in which the authority has provided IT equipment to them has been without a “coherent, structured and strategic approach” across the county.

The money would mean children would be given systems that would be part of “sustainable, resilient and robust ICT platform that meets the needs of the 21st century teaching and learning environment.”

Problems with the schools’ IT systems have been highlighted by Estyn and on the Monmouthshire risk register.

The Welsh Government wants primary schools to have broadband internet with 100MB speed but many of the county’s have less than 10MB speed. It is also hoped Monmouthshire’s comprehensive schools have a 1GB speed.

As part of the second part of the investment, all schools could be connected up to the SRS centre in Blaenavon so data security is enhanced. It would also ensure the schools do not need to rely on their own servers.

In a report that will be seen by councillors at a meeting at County Hall in Usk on Thursday, the council’s digital and technology manager Sian Hayward states: “We need a sustainable, resilient and robust ICT platform...Having a school without proper digital capacity would be like trying to teach using candles, slate and chalk.”

Of the money, £250,000 would be taken from the council’s ICT Transformation reserve, £80,000 from its 21st Century Schools programme and £50,000 from a reduction in the County Farms capital maintenance budget. The other £505,775 will be provided through borrowing.

For the proposal to go ahead, all schools must sign up to service level agreements. Implementation would be undertaken within six and nine months once all schools and resources have been put in place by the SRS. All other improvements should be completed by the end of 2017.