St Patrick’s De La Salle BNS Castlebar has become one of the first schools in Ireland to be named a Digital School of Distinction, joining a growing group of primary schools nationwide to receive the prestigious award. An Taoiseach Enda Kenny presented the award to teachers and pupils at the school today. Supported by HP and Microsoft and launched in September last year, Digital Schools of Distinction is a flagship award programme which promotes, recognises, and encourages best practice use of technology in primary schools.
Almost 850 primary schools around Ireland have registered for the programme, with 31 schools receiving their award to date. Twenty eight other schools in Mayo have registered to sign up to the programme.
The Digital Schools of Distinction Award aims to help schools to further integrate technology into the classroom. HP Ireland and Microsoft Ireland are providing support to the programme for five years, including a financial commitment of €300,000 in the first year as well as the provision of practical support and resources.
Speaking at the event, An Taoiseach said: “I am very proud to see a school from Castlebar becoming one of the first schools in Ireland to receive this prestigious award. The staff and pupils of St Patrick’s deserve great credit for all the hard work that they have put into achieving their Digital School of Distinction award. This programme positively impacts upon pupils’ motivation to learn as well as recognising achievement by teachers and schools in advancing the integration of technology in the classroom. I am extremely impressed by all that I have seen at St Patrick’s and I commend the school on their great achievement.”
