Computers in Homes project helping parents too

By RICHARD WOOD

A project to put computers into poorer homes to help with the education of children has been so successful that for many the computer has displaced the TV in the living room.

The Computers in Homes project was initiated two years ago by the Wellington City Council-backed 20/20 Communications Trust and is now done in partnership with Victoria University.

Researcher Barbara Craig from Victoria University's School of Education said the latest research from the project showed the main uses of the computers were education and homework, searching for employment and entertainment.

Craig said families had to have an 8-year-old child to be eligible but it turned out adults were getting as much benefit as the children because they could address their own literacy and numeracy issues in the privacy of their own home. That meant they could help their children more.

The project has also allowed parents to get more involved in their child's education, opening up resources in homes that often had no books or encyclopedias.

The researchers last week presented results to a group of seventy ministers and government department staff. Projects are coordinated by schools and there are three groups in Wellington and Auckland of around 25 families on the scheme. There are also 135 families benefiting from the project on the East Coast through the Tuhoe Education Authority. Four more projects are in implementation phase and there is a waiting list of communities wanting to get involved.

Victoria University's Craig said the whole process was a turning point for many families.

"It will break that cycle of moving from school into unemployment."

In 80 per cent of the houses at least one adult had looked for a job through the internet and across all households 12 per cent had got a permanent or temporary job using the internet. Also, in one third of cases, at least one adult had enrolled for a course of training either through the net or in person since signing up.

The Computers in Homes project is coordinated through schools with financial assistance from the Ministry of Education. It provides a free computer and internet connection along with technical support. Online computer training resources are being developed in four languages; Maori, Samoan, Tongan and English. Funding has also been applied for to assist a large group of refugees in Wellington who are from Laos.

The first batch of computers in each case was for six months and after that it is up to each individual school to either roll over the computers to new families, or raise money for more computers.

Tuhoe Education Authority is now looking for ways to roll over its computers to new users and extend out to a 5000 strong constituency by finding the right computer deal and sponsorships. The Authority represents 14 schools from Opotiki to Murupara and down to Lake Waikarimoana.

Authority liaison officer (apihatakawaenea) Riaka Hiakita said the original group of users made a commitment to provide access to at least one more family. He said a lot of these families are now ready for more powerful PCs than the recycled ones they have started with and are interested in a computer of their own.

For the past month Whakatane businessman Doug Bell from internet World Group has been working with Tuhoe and Computers in Homes to put together a $1200 PC and three-year internet deal and find sponsors. He said work was continuing into what government assistance was possible and in finding out about low interest rate financing.