NO state school in Tasmania has connected to the National Broadband Network since it was launched almost a year ago.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The high-speed internet service was officially launched in the North in August, connecting Scottsdale, Smithton and Midway Point.
However, Education Minister Nick McKim admitted yesterday that no state school was hooked up to the fibre optic yet.
In response to a question from the Liberal Party, Mr McKim said only one computer lab at Smithton High School has been connected on a trial basis since December.
"No school in any of the three stage 1 towns is using a production NBN service. In early December 2010, the department reached agreement with NBN Co to trial an NBN service at Smithton High School until the state government wide area network communications providers became registered," he said.
"The department connected this trial into one computer lab. The majority of Smithton High School still uses the government-wide network."
Mr McKim said funds would not be made available to change the situation until at least next financial year.
Opposition education spokesman Michael Ferguson said Mr McKim must detail what his plans were to bring state school up to speed.
"The NBN is a tremendous opportunity for our communities and our schools, but the Green-Labor government has completely dropped the ball," he said.
"The benefits of being the first part of the country with the NBN are slipping away as the mainland roll-out commences, yet the Green-Labor government has done nothing.
"After all the hype and hyperbole, not even our kids are benefiting from the NBN."
In April, NBN Co announced that construction would begin shortly on seven communities in Tasmania under stage 2 of the roll-out: Deloraine, George Town, Kingston Beach, Sorell, South Hobart, St Helens and Triabunna.