Apple's iPad for classrooms? Queensland says, Why not?

The Rudd Labour government hopes to equip every public high school student with their own computer by the end of next year and has given states the liberty to choose the type of hardware it wants to purchase.

Queensland Department of Education and Training chief information officer David O'Hagan said that, based on the information released from Apple, the iPad appeared to be a supplementary technology that could complement existing technology within schools.

"When it becomes available in Australia, the Department of Education and Training will conduct an evaluation to determine its suitability for teaching and learning as well as network compatibility," O'Hagan said.

In NSW, Education Department officials say they are always on the lookout for new technology to enhance the learning skills of students.

"The potential of new technology to assist the teaching and learning of public school students is of interest to the NSW Department of Education and Training," a spokesman for NSW DET said.

However, in Victoria, the iPad has yet to be considered as it was not available in Australia, a Department of Education spokesman said.

In the ACT, an education department spokesman said it was awaiting clarification from the federal education department as to whether the iPad qualified as a laptop or desktop under funding protocols, before deciding on purchasing the device for schools.