Highland Council to sign new ICT contract

Highland Council is set to sign a contract with WIPRO Holdings UK ltd, allowing the contractor to oversee its technology, including the roll-out of tablet computers in schools.

The new contract is expected to be signed in mid-September, and will include the roll-out of 20,000 tablet computers to pupils to help them with their studies.

The local authority also maintained that the contract should make a significant reduction in the cost of running its information and communication technology services, with it currently looking to make £11 million in savings.

Commenting on the new contract, Bill Fernie, the resources committee chairman, said: "The council has a duty to provide the best possible value for public money in the provision and delivery of all its services.

"Through this new contract we aim to achieve significant cost savings and deliver services in innovative ways, making the best use of new technologies and enabling business change and transformation as well as modernising classroom technology."

Drew Millar, chairman of the council's child and adult service, added: "We will modernise learning in the classroom with the deployment of tablet devices allowing anytime, anywhere learning for pupils including while at school and at home.

"This will include the introduction of around 20,000 tablets and a further investment in networks and bandwidth to schools to improve access."