Background

Officers of the Computer Education Group (CEG) joined discussions with other associations in the field of ICT in Education to explore the possibilities of closer alignment of activities. There was support from members to reduce the number of apparently competing organisations. The outcome was that the CEG, MAPE and NAACE have merged to form a new organisation called Naace (to distinguish it from NAACE) which will provide a wider range of high quality services.  All three organisations were registered charities and the new organisation will be a charity with aims similar to those of both MAPE and the CEG.  The name Naace is merely  a name and the letters no longer stand for particular words.

All three organisations have excellent reputations.  The committee structure of the new organisation is based on a number of subgroups representing members' roles as teachers or as persons providing support for teachers:

• Primary
• Secondary
• Beyond School
• Advisers and consultants

Each of these groups has its own committee, with a representative on the Executive Committee of Naace. Committee members are  elected by those members who choose to align with a particular subgroup. In this way, the various communities of members can be supported with dedicated services.

The CEG has provided the basis of the Secondary Group of the new Naace,  by virtue of its background which has been predominantly concerned with secondary education.   Many CEG members in Higher Education institutions may also prefer to contribute significantly to the development of the Beyond School Group.  Thus there is representation on the Beyond School Group's Committee from the former CEG.

Services include:

• An enhanced journal based on the format of 'Computer Education'. The journal is likely to increase in content to contain a mixture representing the whole range of Naace activities. It will contain refereed research articles, professional reports, advice and opinion relating to classroom practice, book and software reviews, etc. The above will cover all sectors and include international contributions. The journal will retain the name 'Computer Education', with the subtitle 'The Naace Journal';
• A substantial weekly electronic newsletter, keeping members up-to-date with developments in ICT itself, in the curriculum and in policy issues;
• An email discussion list to provide an immediate source of advice and exchange of views;
• Occasional publications and reports;
• An annual conference with input from leaders in the field as well as discussion and debate between members;
• An opportunity to influence other bodies to whom the association would provide advice and recommendations concerning ICT in education.

The basic Membership fee is  £40 per annum, with a £35 introductory price for those continuing their subscription from CEG or MAPE membership.
Those members who have already paid the 2004-5 CEG subscription will be given full membership of  Naace until 30th April 2005 without extra charge.
There is an additional subscription of £20 per annum per group for any member who wishes to align with more than one group, with a maximum total annual  subscription of £80.
Currently there are no plans to create an institutional membership.  Library subscriptions and the subscriptions of schools/colleges will be handled as with the  former Computer Education Group.
Student teachers will pay half-price membership.