Cork Education Support Centre

NCTE has collaborated with IBM in the KidSmart Early Learning Programme since 2000. The role of NCTE in this partnership involves providing assistance with the school application and selection process, providing teacher training opportunities and ICT advice and support to the participating schools both directly by NCTE and locally via its ICT advisory service. To date, IBM has donated 488 KidSmart Early Learning Centres to almost 200 schools nationwide.

IBM’s KidSmart Early Learning Centres have been specially designed for three-to-seven year old pupils and aim to provide an effective jump start in early learning and teaching, and open up the world of technology to its users. Each IBM KidSmart Early Learning Centre consists of a colourful and durable Little Tikes desk and bench that seats children working in two's and three's, housing a multimedia IBM PC, award-winning educational software and a colour printer.

In the Cork area the following schools are involved:-

• Gaelscoil Mhachan, Blackrock
• Greenmount National School, Cork
• Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh (Buachaillí), Bishopstown
• Scoil Barra N.S., Ballincollig
• Scoil Mhuire Banríon, Mayfield
• Scoil Naisiunta Chnoc na Graí, Mallow
• Scoil Padre Pio N.S., Churchfield
• Sonas Special Junior Primary School, Carrigaline
• St. Brendan’s G.N.S., The Glen
• St. Maries of the Isle, Cork
• St. Mary's Convent N.S., Cobh