Schools lament Telecom move

Telecom is being urged to reconsider pulling the plug on school sponsorship.

The telecommunications company announced in July it was cutting the School Connection programme after 14 years, because its objectives had been met.

It said yesterday it was still trying to get new sponsors to continue the scheme.

National list MP Kate Wilkinson is launching a petition in Rangiora calling on Telecom to continue with the programme, which has pumped $120 million into schools nationally.

Wilkinson, who will launch her petition at the local Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Show on Saturday said yesterday she strongly opposed Telecom's decision, which would have "significant implications" for schools in the Waimakariri district.

"I am baffled by the decision by Telecom that threatens to jeopardise a really positive and worthwhile relationship with our local school community," she said.

Telecom spokesman Nick Brown said yesterday that School Connection had always been a sponsorship deal and Telecom was working hard to get new sponsors for it.

"We are keen to see the programme continue with new sponsors and we have had some constructive conversations with potential new sponsors, though it's too early to say how these will pan out," he said.

Telecom was proud of what it had achieved in helping schools get into the "online age" and there were now thousands of schools across the country online as a result of School Connection.

The scheme linked Telecom residential customer account spending to sponsorship of nominated schools, allowing them to buy goods ranging from digital cameras and broadband services to computer hardware.

President of the Canterbury Primary Principals Association and Fernside School principal David Taylor said yesterday the decision to axe the 14-year-old scheme in January next year was disappointing and it would impact on schools which had used the money to boost technology.

His school received $2500 a year and he estimated Canterbury schools had benefitted by well over $600,000 annually.

There did not appear to be a huge groundswell to change companies in protest, with many schools tied into Telecom through School Zone, a high speed secure network.

"The programme has been fantastic and has made a significant difference in getting technology into schools, particularly smaller schools," he said.

Oxford Area School principal Bob Norrish said his school received around $8000 a year and the school had encouraged parents to sign with Telecom.

"I think it has been good publicity for Telecom. It's disappointing it's ending. It has enabled us to buy IT equipment we would have struggled to provide otherwise," he said.

The school was tied into Telecom through School Zone, which was the only viable service for distance education and email.

Hurunui College principal Ron Ballantyne said the scheme had been of tremendous benefit to his school but Telecom had every right to make a commercial decision to end it.

Rangiora Borough School principal Alan Sutton said the school had urged parents to sign up with Telecom.

"It has been pretty good advertising for Telecom. It has been a wonderful and positive thing for Telecom and for us," he said.

Replacing the $5000 to $6000 the school gained from the programme would be extremely difficult, he said.

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