Classroom computers underused

Almost half of schools with computers say students never use them, a Citizens Party survey has found.

Although nearly all 189 responding secondary and primary schools had computers, 47 per cent admitted they were not used.

The survey, conducted in late December, followed Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's pledge to speed up computer education.

Up to 75 per cent of secondary schools said less than one-quarter of their teachers were comfortable teaching with computers.

The situation in primary schools was even worse, with one-third saying none of the staff was comfortable with the new medium.

Party chairman Christine Loh Kung-wai was worried the $22 billion education spending over the next five years might be misdirected.