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SALTIS
welcomes BESA Policy Commission's call for better technical
standards in schools
13th
November 2008
SALTIS
welcomes the conclusion of BESA's Policy Commission, chaired
by Charles Clarke, that better standards for software
interoperability are essential if we are to maximise the
benefits of ICT in education.
The
BESA report identifies five key issues in education policy
and makes five corresponding recommendations. Under Issue
5, "Maximising the benefits of ICT", the report
notes that difficulties with technical interoperability
have acted as a barrier to the effective implementation
of e-learning in schools. It recommends that BECTA should
lead the development of improved standards for interoperability,
in close consultation with industry and relevant international
standards bodies.
SALTIS
is delighted both by the Policy Commission's conclusion
and by the welcome which it has received from BECTA. Chairman
of SALTIS, Crispin Weston, commented, "BESA's Policy
Commission has articulated what is now a firm consensus
between all the key players over the need for better interoperability.
There is now an opportunity for rapid progress in 2009,
to which SALTIS is ready to make a strong contribution."
Notes
to editors
The
report of the Policy Commission, established by the British
Education Suppliers Association (BESA) to celebrate its
75th anniversary, is available at http://www.besa.org.uk.
Becta has welcomed the report in a press release available
at http://news.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=38746.
SALTIS
(Suppliers Association for Learning Technology and Interoperability
in Schools) was established in October 2007, specifically
to address issues around technical interoperability in
schools. Although it has been constituted as a Working
Group of BESA, it operates independently of BESA and has
played no part in the Policy Commission.
At
the BETT 2009 show at London Olympia, in January 2009,
SALTIS will publish a strategy document, which will provide
further detail of the technical work which it believes
is required.
For
further information, see www.saltis.org or contact SALTIS'
Chairman, Crispin Weston, on 07780 811806 or at crispin.weston@saltis.org.
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