200 students get Chromebooks for school shutdown

In response to Covid-19 and the impact on school students, the Genesis School-gen Trust organised the purchase and distribution of 200 Chromebooks to students who currently have no device at home so they could continue their learning during school shutdowns.

With school closures imminent, the Trust partnered with the Manaiakalani Education Trust over the weekend to source the Chromebooks and arrange distribution to seven schools in Auckland. These schools include Tamaki Primary, Glen Innes Primary, Glen Taylor School, Panmure Bridge School, Glen Brae Primary and Point England Primary, as well as Tamaki College.

Distribution will occur on Wednesday 25 March and will be carefully managed to ensure physical distancing is maintained.

Lee Mauger, Chair of the Genesis School-gen Trust said it was great that the devices will go to students who have been identified as being at real disadvantage due to the school shutdown. “These students are the ones who will suffer the most if they fall behind and the Chromebooks will ensure they don’t. Our thanks go to Genesis as the primary funder of the Trust and their amazingly generous customers who have been donating to the Trust via their energy bills.”

Russell Burt, Manaiakalani Community of Learning Leader, also thanked Genesis and its customers. “Our thanks go to Genesis and their customers, who have not only brightened up the lives of people in a gloomy situation but have significantly empowered fragile learners to seize an amazing opportunity to learn how to learn. We and they are so grateful.”

The Manaiakalani Education Trust has been working with 100 schools and 20,000 learners across New Zealand since 2011. Its focus is on supporting digital citizenship of students in low socio-economic school communities and in particular Maori and Pasifika children. Learn more about the Manaiakalani Education Trust.