7. IT Use in New Zealand Schools
This report draws on information derived from surveys carried out in 1998 and 1999/2000 by the Information Technology Advisory Group (ITAG) which were in turn based on earlier surveys carried out by the Telecom Education Foundation between 1993 and 1996 (ITAG 1999 and other references therein). It also includes information provided by the Ministry of Education from a survey of all New Zealand schools conducted in 1996.
The latest ITAG survey research is from a sample of 271 primary and 167 secondary schools and the earlier ITAG and TEF surveys were of similar size. These surveys may be biased towards schools with a higher than average interest in IT issues and will therefore tend to slightly overestimate numbers.
7.1 Computers in Schools
The Ministry of Education survey indicated that there were just under 52,000 computers in schools in 1996. Extrapolation of the results of the 1998 ITAG survey indicated that there were around 75,000 computers in schools in 1998, an increase of 44% in two years.
Figure 7.1.1 shows the number of students per computer combining the results of the TEF and ITAG surveys to give a time series, with the 1996 Ministry of Education figures superimposed. Note that the latter survey, despite covering 98% of schools, is considered to have underestimated the total numbers of computers because of misunderstandings about some of the questions.
Figure 7.1.1 Students per computer
The ITAG survey asked for information about how computers were being used in schools. When administration computers are excluded, in 1999 there was one computer for every 14 students in primary schools (unchanged from 1998) and one per seven students in secondary schools (compared with eight in 1998). Figure 7.1.2 shows the main uses for computers in New Zealand schools in 1998.
Figure 7.1.2 Main uses for computers in schools (1998)
Both the ITAG and Ministry surveys asked for information about the types of computers in use in schools. The results are shown in Figure 7.1.3. Note that the Ministry survey combined results from secondary and primary schools.
Figure 7.1.3 Types of computers in schools
Since 1996 there has been a move to Intel/MS Windows type PCs as the older model Acorn/BBC Micros and "Others" have been replaced to the extent that these have almost disappeared from the latest survey. The proportion of Apple/Macintosh computers has been maintained and increased slightly between the 1998 and 1999/2000 surveys, especially in primary schools.
7.2 Internet Connections in Schools
The overwhelming majority of schools now have some form of connection to the Internet. Combining the TEF and ITAG surveys provides the time series in Figure 7.2.1. The TEF surveys from 1993 to 1995 asked if the school had a modem, the 1996 survey and the ITAG survey asked about Internet access.
Figure 7.2.1 Schools with access to the Internet
Usage of the Internet is quite low, although it appears to be increasing rapidly. In 1998, about 20% of schools (primary and secondary) reported that 25% or more teaching staff used Internet email during a typical week. The 1999/2000 survey indicated that about 50% of schools reported that 25% of teaching staff are regularly using email.
The number of schools, especially primary schools, with their own domain name is low but increasing rapidly. There are about 2,750 schools in New Zealand and 740 registrations in the .school.nz domain as of February 2000, compared with 445 a year earlier (see Section 6.3).
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