Technology for learning - who picks up the bill?
As school resumes, thousands of students have entered classrooms without a laptop, left with no compass to navigate an education system dependent on digital access.
Organisations like Recycle A Device (RAD) and the Taitokerau Education Trust have let us know that they are seeing a significant increase in requests for devices.
"At RAD, we’re seeing an unprecedented rise in demand for devices, particularly from Whānau Ora navigators, MSD/WINZ case managers, Police and the Ministry of Education. While we’re doing our best to meet this need, the gap in access to technology remains vast. It's disheartening to see so many families and communities facing barriers that prevent them from accessing the tools their children need to succeed in today’s digital world." Bronwyn Scott, Recycle A Device.
A recent TechRadar article detailing “the best” student laptops in New Zealand lists the average cost of a recommended device at $2300. The BYOD suggestions from Noel Leeming come in around the $500 mark.*
For many families, these prices are completely out of reach, especially as they are already grappling with rising costs across everyday essentials.
Unemployment in New Zealand is projected to rise to 5.1%, the highest in four years, putting even more pressure on households. Many parents are struggling to meet basic needs for their children, let alone afford the technology required for modern learning.
This financial strain is further compounded by the escalating costs of food, rent, and transport. We’ve seen that the average high school uniform in Auckland costs nearly $470, while at some public high schools, it can climb to a staggering $1000.
When combined with the growing cost of living, spending so much on a device, being ONE single item from a long stationery list becomes an insurmountable challenge.
It’s time to acknowledge that it’s not only the learning part of a child’s education journey that is online. Families now register for sports, sign permission slips, contact teachers, read pānui and check their children's grades all using the internet. Homework often includes data-heavy links to Youtube and other education platforms that are video content heavy.
We know that 380,000 households in the lowest income quintile in Aotearoa cannot afford the cost of the basic internet package. According to the Report into Affordable Connectivity, a four person** household needs an average of 496GB per month for $7 a week or less. Don’t even get us started on a printer!
Social services providers play a vital role in providing access to technology through initiatives such as low-cost broadband plans, interest-free micro-payments on devices, whānau support services, and device borrowing programmes. However, this year, the demand vastly exceeds the supply. Despite this urgent need, the government offers no direct support, forcing social service providers to scramble for solutions.
The Digital Equity Coalition Aotearoa (DECA) advocates for equity, which means ensuring that every student in Aotearoa has access to the resources they need to succeed.
We urge the government, funders, the tech sector and donors who are able to provide financial support to recognise the growing demand and back the many outstanding initiatives that offer affordable, accessible technology to all students.
TechRadar: Best Student Laptops NZ
Stuff: Back to School - Average Cost of Auckland High School Uniform
Wellington mum shocked at $1000 school uniform bill
RNZ: Unemployment Forecast to Hit Four-Year High
DECA: Summary of the Affordable Connectivity Report
*We do not have any direct links to retailers or endorse any specific stores
**Two adults, two secondary school children