Free computers to school kids

Businessday reports:

Families with school-aged children could be provided with portable computers under a future Labour government.

Education spokesman Trevor Mallard says that is “one of many ideas in the mix” as the party develops its education policy, which will be announced in the runup to next year’s general election.

“My initial thinking is that the devices would have to be able to be used both at school and at home – therefore we will have to look beyond the traditional desktop.

“And with technology moving quickly and costs coming down, it would be foolish to dictate the type of hardware at this point.”

Mr Mallard says it is possible that in two years’ time, suitable computers could be provided for $200 to $300 each. …

Education Minister Anne Tolley was hostile. “This is another example of Labour promising to spend money the Government doesn’t have.

“What would Labour cut to pay for this half-formed pipedream, which would cost in the region of half a billion dollars?

“The Government is getting on with the sensible plan of targeted spending to upgrade our schools, to make sure they are ready to take advantage of ultrafast broadband.”

There are almost 750,000 children in school.

It is obvious one can not afford $1,000 computer to every student at school. That would costs $750 million.

But what if one phased it in by giving each kid a computer on the day they enter school – and it is a $250 laptop. Now around 60,000 kids enter school every year, so that would be $15 million a year – something which is arguably affordable.

Of course the laptops they get at age 5 might not last their entire school life, but if you get them into using computers from the beginning, then the family is more likely to purchase computers themselves in future.