ectomorph

This is more of a rant than anything else. My son starts year 8 next year in an ordinary state school in melbournes outter N.E. burbs. In a recent news letter it has been communicated that all year 8 students require a personal laptop, at their own (parents) expense either by bringing in their own device or by leasing one from the school over 3 years at a cost of $1500. I'm pretty piffed off at this request considering we bought him a new desktop for xmas only just last year, bringing the number of household computers to 3, and now being told we need to buy a laptop for school use! The specs state a 9 cell battery to last 8 hours - not allowed to bring power supply to class! I'm reluctant at the thought of having to buy a forth machine now, its an additional expense I can do without over xmas, not to mention the possibilities of damage/theft/loss being lugged around school. I thought schools were supposed to have computers onsite ? Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

In Exile

what happened to kevin rudds laptops for everyone strategy a few years ago?

spartacus

I think this is it in action.

In Exile

a-ha. my bad i thought it was a promise, not a demand

fish.01

Goes from year 9 to 12. Doesn't cover year 8. Last time I read from year 9 schools are given $1000 per laptop and up to $1500 per laptop for other expenses of running them. Some schools still charge more on top of this but is discouraged. The OP's school charges seem excessive...maybe the 3 year charge is weighted towards covering the unfunded yr8 cost?

Turban Explorer

I often attempted to use the computers for my class in Townsville. Fraught with difficulty. When everyone was successfully logged on and all the malfunctioning clunky laptops replaced half the lesson was gone. The internet was blocked so research was impossible. Using powerpoint or word just involved endless font play and colour changes.

Worth it? Definitely not.

PunkDebutante

My eldest daughter just finished Year 8 and they uses laptops with a flip around screen daily in their classes and all of their textbooks are electronic. This is a private school. Here is what our school says about it:

LAPTOP PROGRAMME
The computers will be rented by families over a 3 year period at a cost of $1,220.00 per year. During 2011, a Government subsidy of $320.00 will continue to be accessed to reduce parental cost to $900.00 per annum. The School will subsidise the $320.00 to Year 8 families in 2011, to whom the Government subsidy does not apply.

h2oskineil

The laptops are being rolled out in WA. My son starts year 8 next year and has a laptop ready to go. Must vary between states.

In Exile

thats crazy. I am actually shocked. 900 per annum. you could buy one for less than 900 which would more than suit.
jeeees, I should put this in the YKYAIA thread: you know you're in australia when absolutely everyone tries to financially bum**** you and your kids for some more dollars.

itigo

Don't forget to claim it and all peripheries on your tax..........

Jaycee1

A feeder high school to the primary I work at in Frankston North has decided that their students require an ipad to do their year 7 and 8 studies at a cost of over $900
The majority of the primary feeder students are on Centrelink payments so this makes sense to do this
I know these people should work and be able to pay, but my point is they don't. Some have kids in years 7 and 8 its just not going to work....

kips

I feel for you. Can you claim most of the cost under the Education Tax Refund scheme which covers laptops.

The website www.educationtaxrefund.gov.au gives info about how you claim and who is eligible.

Like everything the benefit is means-tested. As for loss/damage/theft would that be covered under your house contents insurance policy ? Hope you get a positive result.

furkew

$900 for a decent laptop with Insurance, tech support (in many cases on site at the schools), extra laptops needed when kids forget them/being repaired or the batteries are not charged, good anti spam/virus protection, lesson software etc etc. Its not that bad.

ozzieeagle

There are no Text Books whatsoever at Coburg High school, Save for some English Novels. Only the need for a Macbook. It actually works out cheaper. Especially as the Computer can stay viable for up to 3 years. Quite correct about the Claims as well 1500 bucks per Secondary Student and 800 bucks per Primary.

Can check out the requirement list on here....

http://cshs.vic.edu.au/

hoofie2002

I know a very good state school in Perth is buying laptops for all the kiddies. [Can't mention the name as my neighbour is in charge of it].

On the other side I know St Stephens in Perth is mandating parents buy iPads for the their kids to use at school. Surely a laptop [even if its mandated as a MacBook] is MUCH more use than a fondle-slab ?