Queen Charlotte College, in Picton, will not be making tablet devices such as iPads compulsory for students.
Queen Charlotte College principal Tom Parsons said the decile 4 school will instead consider increasing the wireless internet capacity of the school.
This would allow students who already have internet-capable devices such as netbooks, iPads and smartphones to use the network.
Students using the wireless network would free up more of the school's computers for other students, he said.
Orewa College, a decile 9 state-integrated school in north Auckland, has told parents that year 9 students will need an iPad 2 or similar device as part of their stationery from next year. The iPads sell for between $799 and $1289, depending on memory size and its ability to connect to the 3G cellular networks.
Mr Parsons said requiring students to own the hi-tech devices for school would create an unlevel playing field.
"Could we make this compulsory? We could, but we wouldn't."
Through operational funding, the school has one computer for every four students, which are free for students to use between 8am and 5pm on weekdays.
Outside those hours the Marlborough District Library in Picton sometimes reserved computers for students.
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG
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