A cash injection of Pounds 450 million into the National Grid for Learning was announced by the Government last week. Theinitiative now has Pounds 700m to spend on giving schoolchildren technological skills for the new millennium.
The cash boost covers spending in 2001 and 2002. This year, Pounds 102m is being spent, with Pounds 105m for next year. Local education authorities will be required to contribute half this amount.
The funding is part of a new strategy, Open for Learning, Open for Business, which will encourage Website content providers - both public and private - to participate in the grid.