Microsoft Ireland has donated a range of software valued at €150k to the 19 education centres of the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE), as part of a new nationwide partnership with the NCTE.
The education centres, which operate as a network of learning communities for teachers in Ireland and play a key role in implementing the NCTE’s teaching skills initiative, have been given free Microsoft Windows upgrades and Microsoft Office.
Microsoft, through its publishing arm, Microsoft Press, will also provide the latest information on Microsoft learning technologies for the teachers and trainers in the centres. In addition, each centre has an ICT advisor to assist teachers with their technology training requirements. Microsoft’s education specialists will work closely with the NCTE to provide additional support to these advisors.
Jerome Morrisey, director of the NCTE, said: “It is of crucial importance to the work that the NCTE does that we have the most up-to-date software at our disposal. We are very grateful to Microsoft for what they are providing us with though this partnership.”
Derrick McCourt, group manager, Public Sector, Microsoft Ireland, added: “Microsoft is delighted to be partnering with the NCTE on this initiative. Education centres throughout the country have been doing a world-class job of providing our teachers with the latest in ICT training. We hope that by continuing to work closely with the NCTE and its ICT advisors in each of the centres that our support, in terms of software licences, training materials and technical advice, will enhance the Centre’s existing programmes by giving them access to the latest Microsoft learning technologies.”
Microsoft Ireland supports a number of organisations in the educational and not-for-profit sector through the donation of software on an annual basis. Other recipients of Microsoft donations include Enable Ireland, FIT (Fast-Track to IT), the Spinal Injuries Action Association and 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
By Brian Skelly
