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New call on child laptop policy Give laptops to pupils, MP urges
(40 minutes later)
Welsh MP Adam Price has called on the assembly government to give each primary school child in Wales a laptop. A Plaid Cymru MP has urged the assembly government to press ahead and give each primary school child in Wales a laptop.
A promise to pilot such a project was included in the One Wales document, which forms the basis of the Labour-Plaid assembly government. A promise to pilot such a project was in the One Wales document which forms the basis of the coalition in Cardiff Bay formed by Labour and Plaid.
But Mr Price, Plaid Cymru MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, wants the coalition to fore-go the pilot and introduce the scheme across Wales. But Adam Price, the Plaid MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, wants the coalition to forego the pilot and introduce the scheme across Wales.
It is similar to a policy proposed by Plaid in the last assembly election. The laptop idea was a Plaid policy at the last assembly election.
Mr Price has made his call in a column for Welsh language current affairs magazine Golwg, published on Thursday. Mr Price made his call in a column for Welsh language current affairs magazine Golwg.
He said that similar pilot schemes run in different parts of the world had already proved successful so there was no need for Wales to have its own. He said that similar pilot schemes run in different parts of the world had already proved successful, so there was no need for Wales to have its own.
The price of laptops had also decreased, he said and he estimated that a scheme would now cost £8m rather than the cost estimated by Plaid during the assembly election of £20m. Giving a child a laptop computer would change a classroom from fact-learning factory to a creative library Adam Price MP
"In the last month a computer was been launched which costs around £200," said Mr Price. The price of laptops had also decreased, he said and he estimated that a scheme would now cost £8m, rather than the cost estimated by Plaid during the assembly election of £20m.
"This is a slimmed down version with some of the functions found on a normal laptop taken away. "In the last month a computer has been launched which costs around £200," said Mr Price.
"This is a slimmed-down version with some of the functions found on a normal laptop taken away.
"The prices of laptops are continuing to fall. The cost of any scheme could fall to £4m or £5m by 2010."The prices of laptops are continuing to fall. The cost of any scheme could fall to £4m or £5m by 2010.
Giving a child a laptop computer would change a classroom from fact learning factory to a creative library Adam Price MP
"It would help teachers to change the nature of learning.""It would help teachers to change the nature of learning."
At the time of the election campaign, Plaid's pledge to offer free laptop computers to secondary school pupils was criticised as a "gimmick" by opposing parties. At the time of the election campaign, Plaid's pledge to offer free laptop computers to secondary school pupils was criticised as a "gimmick" by other parties.
Mr Price said the laptops should only be given to primary school pupils because there was more flexibility in the curriculum for that age group.Mr Price said the laptops should only be given to primary school pupils because there was more flexibility in the curriculum for that age group.
"Giving a child a laptop computer would change a classroom from fact learning factory to a creative library," he said. "Giving a child a laptop computer would change a classroom from fact-learning factory to a creative library," he said.
"Wales must embrace the technological age in order to invest in the education of its children.""Wales must embrace the technological age in order to invest in the education of its children."
Mr Price said he had not discussed the issue with education minister Jane Hutt since the One Wales document was written but now wanted a public debate to open on the issue. Mr Price said he had not discussed the issue with Education Minister Jane Hutt since the One Wales document was written, but now wanted a public debate to open on the issue.
A Welsh Assembly Government spokeswoman said the extent of and timescale for a free laptop pilot scheme was being considered. A Welsh Assembly Government spokeswoman said the extent of, and timescale for, a free laptop pilot scheme was being considered.