Queensland schools' BYOD program risks leaving poorer students behind, QTU says
By Kathy McLeish
Posted ThuThursday 15 DecDecember 2016 at 8:27pmThuThursday 15 DecDecember 2016 at 8:27pm
Support services say the divide between students is growing with new financial strain. (7.30)
Queensland's education authorities are being warned that families could be forced to take on unsustainable loans to suit a program requiring students to bring their own devices, such as laptops, to class or else risk children falling behind their peers.
Most schools across Queensland have begun trials of BYOD program
Program could disadvantage students from low socio-ecnomic backgrounds, social services group says
Concerns NAPLAN online system may not be available to all students
Since 2013, the Queensland Education Department has been rolling out the BYOD (bring your own device) or BYOx (bring your own "x") programs across the state.
North Queensland mother of four Catherine McKenna said she would now need to buy laptops for two of her children, who are attending a school launching its own program.
Ms McKenna, a former lawyer with experience in consumer law, said she had deep concerns about the financial risk for many families.
"I will be able to get one because I have a job. If I have to get it on credit, I will be able to read the terms of the contract," she said.
"But I'm concerned at this time of the year coming up to Christmas, parents who are at a disadvantage will feel pressured to sign up for something and take on a huge debt."
QTU says leave no student behind
The Queensland Teachers' Union (QTU) wants the Government to set up a state fund to ensure no students are left behind by the new policies.
Catherine McKenna has four children, two of whom will need new laptops for school in 2017. (Supplied: Catherine McKenna)
President Kevin Bates said many families were struggling and entire schools in low socio-economic areas were unable to take part in the program.
"The Government should be paying for the technology and making sure there are no differences between the education received by child in a poorer community and a child living and studying in a much more affluent community," he said.
While most schools offered loan, rental or assistance programs for families who could not afford a device, Mr Bates said the funds would not stretch to assisting everyone who needed help buying devices.
Growing divide between students
Queensland Council of Social Services chief Mark Henley said it was a critical issue that had the potential to increase disadvantage.
"If the Education Department is going to introduce children having access to devices, they need to make sure that all children get equal access to the best possible education," he said.
He said in a recent survey of Queensland parents almost half said they had suffered financial stress in the past year and were having to make tough decisions.
"You would hate to think that parents feel obliged to keep their children having a device and paying for those costs but maybe forgoing meals or rent of medication," he said.
Mr Henley said social services reports showed many people in need did not ask for help.
Looming issues with NAPLAN online
The Queensland Secondary Principals' Association said schools developed their own version of the BYOx program to suit their communities.
President Andrew Pierpoint said the challenges included staff training, managing school networks and trying to ensure every child and school could take part.
"BYOD provides great opportunity for teaching and learning, but we need to be cautious how we roll it out to ensure the best outcomes are achieved," he said.
Buying laptops on credit
Consumer advocates warn parents to do their homework if entering into credit deals such as interest-only loans.
Interest-free deals may look good on the surface, but check on the loan conditions.
If you don't pay the loan off in time you could be hit with an interest rate of 29.49 per cent.
Even if you do manage to stick to the interest-free period, hidden fees can add up. A $4.95 monthly account-keeping fee adds almost 8 per cent to the cost of a $750 purchase paid off over 12 months.
Advice from Tom Godfrey at Choice
But Mr Pierpoint said the association was worried about whether all schools and students would have equal access to NAPLAN Online, due to be rolled out from 2017.
"Schools that are in low socio-economic communities or areas of our state may suffer," he said.
The Department of Education and Training said resources were provided to help schools implement their own programs, and that schools "work with individual families to ensure that any child who does not have their own device is not disadvantaged in accessing the curriculum".
In a statement, the department said schools had a number of devices available in classrooms for students who did not have their own.
The spokesperson said the Government would invest $240 million in additional funding to state schools on a needs basis next year.
The QTU applauded the state investment but said it remained concerned the funding would not meet the shortfall for all schools and students.
Posted 15 DecDecember 2016ThuThursday 15 DecDecember 2016 at 8:27pm
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