The rising cost of BYOD for the classroom
Schools are increasingly using the words ‘require’ and ‘expect’ when it comes to digital technology for the classroom. Rob Stock investigates.
For many parents, preparing their children for the school year means finding ways to cope with the costs of BYOD.
BYOD stands for ‘‘bring your own device’’, and involves pupils owning the likes of laptops, iPads and Chromebooks for use in the classroom, and for homework.
Prices quoted by electronics retailer PB Tech, which has built a ‘‘shop by school’’ search tool, show the costs of devices expected at schools vary from Chromebooks starting at just over $300 up to laptops costing $2000 or more.
In both cases there can be extra costs for shock-proof, waterproof cases, and accidental damage insurance.
Schools have worked hard to negotiate deals, and affordable payment plans for families, knowing the extra pressure BYOD policies can put on hard-pressed families.
But parents without ready cash can find themselves being steered by schools towards finance companies, or even Work and Income.
It’s not clear exactly how many people do get government help to cope with BYOD costs, but the first three months of last year, covering the back-to-school period, saw 24,278 instances of ‘‘hardship assistance’’ made by Work and Income, adding up to just under $5.3 million in payments.
The debate over whether devices have a place in the classroom is largely settled at intermediate and high school level.
But some primary schools have introduced BYOD for their older pupils, and retailers such as PB Tech sometimes use pictures of primary-age children on their website.
The Ministry of Education says ultrafast broadband is transforming education, and it has invested heavily in helping schools and teachers to ‘‘equip students with the necessary digital skills to take part, create and thrive in a fast-evolving world’’.
Schools cannot legally force families to buy their children devices, but it’s now common practice for them to use words such as ‘‘require’’ and ‘‘expect’’ in their BYOD policies and menus of devices.
Intermediate and high-school parents may feel they have no choice but to fund BYOD, and there are even signs of pressure on some parents of primary schoolchildren.
Primary schools often own a number of devices, but as Bucklands Beach Primary School tells parents: ‘‘Parents are now offered the chance to improve the access their child has to iPads. This is offered through BYOD where students bring an iPad from home.’’
Principals of schools serving low, or mixed socioeconomic areas have come up with schemes, and trusts, to put affordable devices in the hands of their pupils.
The Manaiakalani Education Trust serves a cluster of 12 Auckland schools. Its families are all paying $3.50 a week over three years to own their children’s devices.
Tony Kane, principal of Ka¯ piti College, is one of the trustees of the Whakaaro Hou Education Trust, set up by the principals of all schools from Waikanae to Paeka¯ ka¯ riki.
Its two and threeyear lease-to-buy plans for Acer C730 Dual Core 2Gb Chromebooks cost $5.60 and $4 a week respectively.
‘‘What we have tried to do is to come up with a system where it wasn’t going to cost families any more than the equivalent of a cup of coffee a week,’’ says Kane.
‘‘You still have to have cognisance that even with that it’s going to be a struggle for some families.’’
Schools may also offer parents help in seeking funding from Work and Income – South Auckland’s Aorere College will provide letters