The Fibre Connections to Schools (FCS) implementation approach will be aligned with the overall approach to implementing the Digital Education Revolution (DER). It will focus on full engagement with State and Territory governments and non-government schools authorities.
By December 2008, an implementation plan will be provided to the Coalition of Australian Governments’ Productivity Agenda Working Group.
The implementation plan is being developed on the basis of formal stakeholder engagement and will comprise:
- A baseline of school connectivity across jurisdictions and school sectors
The 2008 Fibre Connections to Schools baseline survey has an overall response rate of 92.3 per cent from government school authorities, Catholic and independent school sectors. It forms a strong evidence base for the FCS program. At a nationally aggregated level, the survey shows that 47.0 per cent of schools use fibre and the majority of all schools (80.5 per cent) use download speeds of up to 4 megabits per second. This is the lowest download speed range used in the survey. Survey respondents agreed only to the publication of nationally aggregated data.
- A vision of connectivity for Australian schools.
This vision is one in which schools are affordably and sustainably connected through technologies that are scaleable and integrated to optimise teaching and learning in Australia into the future. The vision encompasses the connection of schools, as well as the building of networks and aspires to a social agenda which addresses educational disadvantage. The vision is underpinned by principles of affordability, sustainability, scalability and collaboration.
Download the paper on the vision incorporating feedback from education stakeholders:
- Strategies for Realising the National Vision of Connectivity for Australian Schools
The high level strategies are to connect schools to fibre, support schools in remote regions, link with other elements of the Digital Education Revolution, connect networks of schools, explore ways of providing an affordable, sustainable national schools network and enhance schools sectors’ ability to respond to the communications environment.
Download the paper on the strategies incorporating feedback from education stakeholders:
- An evaluation plan.
These deliverables will be components of the implementation plan for the FCS. See a model of their relationship to each other and to the overarching plan
(561.2 KB) for further details.