Addressing the Digital Divide at St. Mel’s College
In 2021, St. Mel’s College received a grant to implement initiatives aimed at addressing the digital divide and supporting our learners at risk of educational disadvantage. This initiative forms part of the Irish National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), a project under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, funded by the European Union through NextGenerationEU.
Thanks to this funding, we were able to make significant improvements to our digital teaching and learning environment. These included:
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The purchase of 13 Wriggle iPads to support students who benefit from assistive and mobile learning tools
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A full upgrade of Wi-Fi connections across the school to ensure fast, reliable internet access in all learning spaces
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The acquisition of 21 webcams, supporting remote and hybrid learning capabilities when necessary
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4 laptops for teacher and staff use, allowing flexible digital instruction
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70 Chromebooks to broaden student access to online learning platforms
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2 charging trolleys for the safe storage and charging of Chromebooks
These investments have significantly strengthened our ability to deliver inclusive, future-focused education and ensure that no student is left behind in the digital learning environment.
We would like to acknowledge the generous support of the European Union and the Irish Government through the NextGenerationEU initiative.