Internet use growing in education in Europe

Citation

(2002), "Internet use growing in education in Europe", Education + Training, Vol. 44 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2002.00444bab.010

Internet use growing in education in Europe

Internet use growing in education in Europe

Internet use in education is growing in the EU, and teachers are overwhelmingly receptive to the advantages which new technology can bring, according to two recent surveys. Some 90 per cent of education institutions in the EU are connected to the Internet, and pupils have Internet access in eight out of ten EU schools and colleges. There is an average of 12 pupils per offline computer and 24 per online computer in EU education institutions. Half the computers used in education are less than three years old.

There are, however, important differences between EU member states. For example, figures vary from three to 25 students per offline computer and from three to 50 students per online computer. Students fare best in Denmark, Luxembourg and Finland, while the worst ratios are in Portugal and Greece. Most teachers use offline computers in their lessons, but less than half use the Internet with students. The main reasons given are the poor level of equipment and of connections. However, teachers who use the Internet in class are positive about it. Only one in 100 of them does not find it useful.

Further information about the surveys is available on the Internet, at http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/news_library/documents/index_en.htm.