E-Learning Porirua City - Connecting our Community...

The Porirua City Community IT Educational Trust “E-Learning Porirua” was established in June 2001. It is an exciting project which aims to place up to 1000 computers in the 24 decile 1 to 3 schools in Porirua City over the next three years.

This will be completed using the latest “thin client” technology and broad band access, and place recycled computers in the homes of families of school children. These families will be trained in the use of computers.

Many of these schools currently have as little as one computer per classroom. Higher decile schools will be involved in later years.

To keep up to date with whats happening please check out our Recent Updates section.

Our Members

The members of the Porirua City Community IT Educational Trust are:

Graham Kelly QSO MP - Founder and Past Chairman - New Zealand High Commissioner in Canada
Fitu Ah Young, Chief Executive, The Open Pacific Institute of Learning (TOPIL)
Wendy Betteridge, Plimmerton Rotary Club
Jill Stanley
Deirdre Dale MNZM, Chief Executive, Whitireia Community Polytechnic
Winnie Laban MP for Mana
Philip Major, Chair, Resident, Porirua City
Murray Woodley, Resident, Porirua City
Murray McNae ONZM

All of our members welcome your support and comments and a complete list of their contact details is available by clicking here.

The project is aimed to assist schools to dramatically raise attainment levels and reduce unemployment amongst young people and parents. A project of this scale has not been undertaken in New Zealand previously. It extends the very successful Computers in Homes pilot project run by the 20/20 Communications Trust for the parents of Cannons Creek pupils.

The computers will be linked to a central computer by fibre optic cable and wireless. This will enable schools to share lessons and teaching resources. It will also allow families to have the latest technology, and will enable such advances as screening videos on the Intranet. It will also allow families to get access to education from home, and those without computer skills to develop a high degree of computer skills through home based training. In the end it will provide Internet access at little or no cost to every household in Porirua.

The project is being strongly supported by the Porirua community. Plimmerton Rotary Club and other service groups will be providing volunteers who will mentor and support families to become familiar with use of the computers provided to homes.