Many local authorities have no idea of how much is being
spent on IT within their schools, according to a survey carried out
by a Liberal Democrat MP John Pugh.
Former teacher and member of the Public Accounts Committee
with experience of IT procurement Pugh carried out the research
of 59 local authorities to establish whether schools were getting
value for money from IT.
"Given that a lot of money is going to be spent on IT as part of
the Building Schools for the
Future project, I am finding out whether schools are getting
value for money with IT," said Pugh. "The sums being spent are
considerable and will mount."
The findings revealed that 37 of the 59 local authorities
questioned did not know how much was being spent on IT within their
schools.
He expressed concerns over schools' procurement strategies.
"Schools are under pressure to get bright and shiny equipment even
if they do not need them," he said
"I think these findings give a worrying example of how this
government is wasting millions of pounds of taxpayer's money and is
incapable of providing strategic leadership for local authorities
in achieving sustained best value," said Pugh.