TWENTY GRADUATES of technology or teacher-training college courses are to gain work placement positions in Microsoft Ireland to help develop digital material for the school curriculum as part of a deal signed by Minister for Education and Science Batt O’Keeffe.
The 20 graduates, who will be based in Microsoft Ireland headquarters in Dublin, will develop digital content to support the curriculum in primary and post-primary schools.
They will work with the National Centre for Technology in Education on tasks aimed at supporting the integration of information communications technology (ICT) into teaching and learning.
They will be employed under the Government’s graduate back- to-work programme which allows them to retain their social welfare entitlements.
The graduate training places are among a number of key elements in the “education alliance” agreed between Microsoft Ireland and the Department of Education.
“I am delighted that Microsoft Ireland is taking this initiative and supporting my drive to increase the use of ICT in our schools,” Mr O’Keeffe said. “It is encouraging that 20 graduates will get valuable work experience on a project that will have a lasting impact on our education system.”
Under the programme, unemployed graduates will get nine months of work experience and retain their social welfare entitlements.
