Digital technology: Safe and responsible use in schools

This guide provides principals and teachers with the information to act confidently and in the best interests of students with regard to digital technology. 

Ownership and digital technology

  • Identify who digital technology belongs to

    • Schools need to have a sound understanding of the ownership of digital technology and the content generated by students in curriculum delivery.

      It is recommended that issues relating to ownership be specifically referred to in school policies, including User Agreement Policies (UAP). Note that it is not possible to use such policies to waive rights afforded to students by the Education and Training Act 2020, New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (BORA) or any other New Zealand legislation.

  • Ownership in ‘Bring Your Own Device’ schemes

    • Schools are adopting Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) schemes to increase the digital technology available for student use at school.

      Typically BYOD ownership models involve devices being either:

      • purchased by parents and whānau
      • leased to parents and whānau through a master lease agreement held by the school, or
      • directly leased by parents and whānau.

      In all cases, the devices are either the property of the student or the leasing company, not the school. School policies and practices should reflect this.