92001E0736

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0736/01

by Roy Perry (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2001)

Subject: Internet access for schools

The 2000 Lisbon European Council called on the Member States to ensure that all schools in the Union have access to the Internet and multimedia resources by the end of 2001, and that all the teachers needed are skilled in the use of the Internet and multimedia resources by the end of 2002.

Does the Commission believe that these targets will be met, and what evidence can it supply to support its view?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2001)

The Commission is pleased to report that these ambitious targets will probably be met by most Member States.

Data facilitated by Member States for the Report Realising the European Union potential: Consolidating and extending the Lisbon Strategy(1), presented by the Commission to the Stockholm Summit, shows great progress in the connection of schools to Internet. In fact, for secondary schools, several of the Member States have already achieved a connection rate of 100 %, although the number of pupils per computer varies between countries (see attached page 19 from the above mentioned report).

As for equipment in multimedia computers and training of a sufficient number of teachers, a recent Eurobarometer survey of teachers and headteachers (soon to be published) gives reasons for optimism. European teachers seem predominantly open towards new technology and its use in teaching. 55 % of European teachers have already received training. About 7 out of 10 teachers have an Internet connection at home.

(1) COM(2001) 79.