2020 Trust Welcomes Government Support for More Computers in Homes Families

An announcement today by Education Ministers Parata and Kaye, that funding for Computers in Homes will be extended in 2015-16 to support another 1500 families has been welcomed by the 2020 Trust.

“We appreciate this on-going support from Government,” said Vanisa Dhiru, the 2020 Trust’s new Executive Director, who commenced work with the Trust this week. “We especially appreciate the early notice so that we can plan with confidence for the next financial year”.

Computers in Homes is a well-established programme and continues to have a positive impact for participating families and the schools that their children attend.

“Last year, families from over 300 schools participated in the programme and we are expecting to engage with a similar number of schools this year,” said Vanisa. “With this continuing support from Government and our many partners, we can continue to tackle the digital divide for families with school-aged children who do not have access to a computer and internet in their homes.”

“The Trust has been making steady progress in tackling the digital divide for families with school-aged children. In 2006, there were 100,000 households with school-aged children without internet access in their homes; by 2013 this had dropped to 62,000. Our goal is to see this reduce to zero within the next five years,” said Vanisa.

“We welcome this additional support from Government to help us progress towards our goal and ensure that all school-aged children have equitable learning opportunities in our digital world,” concluded Vanisa.

About Computers in Homes

Computers in Homes currently supports families in 19 low income communities from the Far North to Invercargill. Over 14,000 families have participated in the programme since the year 2000.

Parents receive 20 hours of basic computer training at their children's schools. This includes word processing, emailing and using the Internet for homework as well as for accessing government websites and for general family information. When parents complete their training, they receive a refurbished computer to take home and a subsidised internet connection for 12 months. Families have access to free technical support for the first year for help with any technical problems.

The programme aims to empower parents to become actively involved in their children's learning, as well as increase their own employment opportunities. Results from the programme have included employment success and continued education, with many achieving a tertiary qualification, as well as increased engagement with their children’s learning and their schools.

Computers in Homes is an initiative of the 2020 Trust with support from the Ministry of Education.

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