HP has launched its Rural Schools Competition for the second year, giving rural New Zealand primary schools the chance to win a share of $20,000 worth of HP products and support.

It’s again partnering with Rural Women New Zealand offering rural primary schools the chance to enter the competition to win HP products, as well as support for the winning schools to help them get the most out of their technology.

HP Category Manager Victoria Mahan says last year’s entries all put a very strong case forward about how their school would benefit from winning the competition.

“The five winning schools were highly focused on how their prize could transform students learning outcomes. It was an easy decision to run this competition again,” she said. “Children all over New Zealand must be equipped to live, play and work in an online world. It’s not only about being engaged at school and achieving but preparing for the workforce of tomorrow. This competition is one way that HP can contribute.”

Rural Women NZ education spokesperson, Kerry Maw explained: “This is such an exciting competition and a fantastic opportunity for rural schools to have the chance to tap into the expertise of a global company like HP.”

Lisa Malones, ex-principal of Tuturumuri School, says being one of the winning schools last year changed the dynamic in her classroom. The school has just one classroom that must cater for the diverse requirements of pupils across multiple levels and students with special needs.

“There was something so powerful about our students winning the competition. They weren’t given it, they won it and it meant that as soon as the technology arrived the students took ownership of it and started using it. I was able to set students up with their own devices to carry out individual learning programmes and get parents involved at home because we suddenly had access to tools like Google docs,” added Malones.

Part of the programme will be working with the winning schools to determine their unique technology requirements – rather than a pre-determined package of devices. Prizes might include HP notebooks, Chromebooks, slates, printers, and support to set up the devices for the school.

Five schools will be awarded the technology grants as follows:

•  1st place: $10,000 worth of HP product and training support
• 2nd place: $5,000 worth of HP product and training support
• 3rd place: $2,500 worth of HP product and training support
• 4th & 5th place: $1,250 worth of HP product and training support.

Rural primary schools throughout New Zealand, with less than 300 students, will be eligible to enter the competition. They simply need to submit an entry form which can be downloaded from www.hp.co.nz/ruralcompetition. Entry criteria can also be found on the website.

Entries close on May 29. The winners will be announced by August and these schools will work with HP to determine the technology that will best support the school.

Source: HP New Zealand