We welcome Northpower Fibre’s announcement on Friday, April 3, that it will waive its monthly wholesale connection charges for 842 student households in Northland.
The waiver means online education is more accessible for students who would otherwise be living without broadband during the nationwide lockdown.
Taitokerau Education Trust Executive Officer Liz Cassidy-Nelson says reinstating connections for so many families allows learning to continue at home while schools are closed.
“We know how beneficial learning online is. Students become incredibly engaged when online resources are opened up to them, especially if they are supported by their teachers and whānau.”
A learning journey is now in the works, which will be available for students across New Zealand to participate in during the lockdown.
The work we do is made possible by a number of Northland organisations dedicated to supporting those most in need.
“The ongoing generosity of Northpower Fibre, Northpower, Refining NZ, Amokura Iwi Consortium, Foundation North, Oxford Community Trust and YHPJ Chartered Accountants has given more than 1000 students across Taitokerau the opportunity to become actively-engaged digital learners. The benefit of this cannot be underestimated,” says Liz.
Taitokerau Education Trust’s successful Digital Immersion Programme gives students in lower-decile Northland schools equal access to online learning to empower them to become actively engaged digital learners.
The trust invests in dedicated digital immersion facilitators, including a specialist Reo Maori facilitator, to support and upskill teachers in digital-learning best practice. The trust also provides affordable devices for whānau to purchase on two-year, no-interest payment plans.
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