Why the EDA programme was set up#

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, our Equitable Digital Access (EDA) programme was established to help students access digital learning resources during lockdowns.

During the EDA programme, we distributed Chromebooks and Windows laptops to schools and students. We created Microsoft accounts that allowed students to log into the Windows laptops.

The programme ended on 30 June 2024.

What decommissioning means#

Now that the EDA programme has ended, we are in the process of removing the devices from our management systems. We are also deleting any associated accounts created by us.

On Monday 1 September 2025, the management of EDA devices (Chromebooks and Windows laptops), and Microsoft accounts created by us, will be decommissioned.

On that date, EDA devices will:

• be automatically reset
• no longer be managed by us or receive updates.

Any accounts created by us will also be deleted.

What EDA device holders need to do#

If you still have or use EDA devices or accounts, you need do the following before Monday 1 September 2025. This is to avoid losing data on the device.

You should:

• create a personal account (Google or Microsoft) if you don’t already have one
• back up or move any files that are saved on EDA devices or saved in Microsoft OneDrive accounts that were created by us
• reset devices to factory default settings to continue to use them.

If your school holds the device, they should enrol the device into the school domain or tenancy to manage the device.

If you no longer need the EDA device, you should return it to your school for recycling, so other students can benefit from it.