23 March 2006

Chancellor Gordon Brown's Budget is set to bring Internet access and improved ICT facilities to some of the UK's most disadvantaged secondary school students.

Mr Brown has earmarked £10 million to be invested in ICT over the next two years.

The money will make sure pupils already benefiting from the home computer scheme brought in with last year's Budget have access to the Internet.

Education secretary Ruth Kelly has welcomed the new Budget, believing the investments in education will help improve and ultimately close the skills gap in the UK.

"This is a fantastic Budget for standards in schools, for pupils and for the skills of our workforce," she said.

"This huge new resource will help revolutionise classroom teaching to the benefit of thousands of pupils."

The Budget will also see more capital investment both ICT and school buildings, with a planned increased fund of £1.6 billion to be invested by 2010 and 2011.

© Adfero Ltd

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