Ross PreeceIn an era when there is increasing pressure on family finances, providing an equitable outcome for all students is one of the biggest challenge any school faces, says Ashburton College principal Ross Preece.

And one of the areas where financial inequality shows up is in the requirement from many schools for students to have their own laptop or tablet.

“The issue becomes, what do you do about the students where families don’t have the where-with-all?” he said.

Preece has come up with a novel scheme he believes will bridge the financial gap at college, but its success, he says, relies on the community’s willingness to be part of the project.

While the school has a fund it can use to provide students with a device, without some ownership involved, students are less likely to look after that device, he said.

“I’m a real believer in giving kids a helping hand rather than a hand-out and we’ve looked at the option of giving kids the opportunity to earn a computer.”

The scheme involves a business or an individual employing a student for $15 an hour for about 25 hours until enough money has been earned to pay for a Chromebook.

The business or the individual gives the college the $400 the student earned and the school gives that student a Chromebook.

It’s theirs to keep.

There’s an added incentive for the employer as the donation to the college comes with a tax refund.

A side benefit of the work-for-a-computer scheme is the life lesson it teaches students, Preece said.

“For many of these kids it will be the first time they’ve had a job and they’re keen.

“In some cases these kids many not have a role model to show them what sticking with a job means so it’s a huge life lesson in there – put the effort in and you get a reward.

“This is about building a work ethic too, not just about getting a Chromebook.”

He believes there could be up to 100 students in Year 9 and 10 who would be keen to be part of the scheme.

“The opportunity is there, if the kids want a computer then they can earn it.

“The work can be anything a 14 or 15-year-old could do. It’s a great opportunity for a business or anyone in the community to get some work done.”

The college board has given the scheme the green light, seeing it as a way to ensure equity of learning opportunities for students.

“We’re just hoping the community will come on board and support the concept; you’ll be helping a student with a first up, real life lesson,” Preece said.

 By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 29 November 2017