Management Toolkit

Blunkett challenges IT education 'stranglehold'

Kable

Published: 16 Jan 2009 08:27 GMT

A former education secretary has called for changes in education IT procurement, so innovative suppliers can win contracts.

David Blunkett, who among other Cabinet posts was education and employment secretary from 1997 to 2001, told the Bett exhibition and conference in London that ensuring new technology bridges the digital divide will "involve changing procurement policies, because the big operators have a stranglehold on procurement. It is virtually impossible for new innovative suppliers to get into the system".

In the speech on 14 January, 2008, he said the government needed to take "a long hard look" at how procurement processes can encourage new suppliers, while retaining quality assurance and proper contract terms.

Philippe Martin, senior analyst at Kable, said: "There is a need for better procurement to help other providers into the education market.

"However, this is becoming increasingly difficult with Building Schools for the Future and the Primary Capital Programme, as only a few experienced managed service providers are likely to win these large contacts."

In the week the government named the suppliers for its Home Access programme, aimed at providing IT for children from low-income homes, Blunkett said: "There is still a major challenge for us to ensure that what is available in the homes of the wealthy is available in the homes of those in disadvantaged communities and families."