Government announces $88m package to assist distance learning

AUCKLAND: More than 17,000 free computers are being given out to lowincome families and two educational television channels are being launched in an allout drive to help children learn at home while schools are closed.

The Government is also providing 2000 modems this week, ramping up to thousands more over the next few weeks, for families with schoolaged children who do not have home internet access.

A further 20,000 families this week and 40,000 next week will get packs of hardcopy learning materials, targeted initially to children who are too young for online learning.

The initiatives have been given emergency funding of $87.7 million and Education Minister Chris Hipkins says ‘‘further additional funding might be required’’.

Two television channels of extensive learning are also being set up, and children’s entertainer Suzy Cato has been confirmed as fronting them.

All schools are providing the names and addresses of the estimated 80,000 families with schoolaged children who do not have home internet and/or suitable devices for their children to learn on at home.

Mr Hipkins said all families would have ‘‘at least one educational delivery option’’ available when the new school term starts on Wednesday April 15 after the Easter school holidays were brought forward two weeks due to the lockdown.

‘‘Starting this week, the ministry will be rolling out, in waves, an extensive, fourchannel package,’’ he said.

The four channels are:

Increasing the number of pupils who have internet access and devices.

Delivering hardcopy packs of learning materials for different year levels.

Funding two television channels to broadcast educationrelated content — one for English medium and one for Maori medium, including content that is targeted to Pacific and other communities.

More online resources for parents, available through the Learning from Home and Ki te Ao Marama websites, and fasttracking ways to connect Learning Support Coordinators with families remotely.

Computers and internet access will be prioritised for years 11 to 13 high school pupils working towards the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) and for ‘‘those with the greatest need due to disadvantage’’.

‘‘We are working to secure thousands more devices from offshore,’’ Mr Hipkins said.

‘‘We are working on the commercial arrangements with internet service providers. As supplies become available, we expect to ramp up to sending out thousands of modems each week. Around 2000 this week.’’

Devices will be owned by schools, which will have a choice of laptops or Chromebooks. Each school will decide whether to give the devices to families permanently or take them back for school use after the lockdown ends. The ministry will pay for insuring them.

The two Freeview TV channels launching on April 15 will broadcast for sixandahalf hours a day and include specialised content for: Early learners.

Parents, to help them support their children’s education.

A broad curriculum that includes movement, music, physical education, wellbeing, numeracy, literacy and science through an integrated approach to curriculum.

An hour of Te Reo Maori.

Pacific and other communities.

Otago principals have welcomed the packages, but stressed going back to school will not be without its challenges.

Otago Primary Principals Association president Shelley Wilde said it was important to remind parents they were not be expected to take the place of teachers when the new term began.

She said it would not be school from 9am3pm as usual, but a flexible programme which parents could manage around their routines. Some of the resources would be online, but some would include tasks, including doing chores at home, reading a book and having quiet time.

Otago Secondary Principals Association president Linda Miller said ensuring the support was offered to the right people, and that they were aware of the options, could be a challenge.

But the packages offered would certainly address issues of equity. — Additional reporting Molly Houseman.

More details: learningfromhome.govt.nz; covid19.govt.nz. — The New Zealand Herald