Laptops for teachers

Who is eligible for a lease laptop?

You can apply for a laptop under the TELA scheme if you are:

• a permanent full-time or part-time (at least 50% FTE) teacher, and
• in a state or integrated school, and
• working with Year 1 to 13 classes, and
• relieving for a permanent position (long-term relievers are only eligible if they are relieving for a permanent position that doesn't already have a TELA laptop).

Resource teachers of learning and behaviour (RTLB), literacy, Māori and itinerant music teachers are eligible if they fit the above criteria.

About the lease

These are the conditions for leasing laptops:

• The laptops provided under the TELA scheme are on a three year 'lease to use'. Schools and teachers have no laptop ownership rights at the end of this period.
• Unfortunately laptops cannot be exchanged for newer models during the lease. However you may be able to add extra features to your laptop at a cost to your school. Contact your relevant supplier for more information.
• Laptops are allocated to positions, not individuals, so if a teacher is on leave the laptop must be available for the relieving teacher. This includes teachers on maternity leave or leave without pay.
• Laptops must stay with the original school and be reallocated to the replacement teacher if a teacher transfers to another school. Teachers cannot take the laptop with them.
• Schools are ultimately responsible for lease payments and fulfilling end-of-lease requirements.
• The TELA scheme is ongoing. At the end of the three year lease, schools are encouraged to take out a new lease for new laptops for their teachers.
• We recommend schools have a signed agreement with the teachers to cover the use of the laptop and adopt a cybersafety policy. You can download a sample teacher agreement at the bottom of the page. Netsafe has cybersafety policies.

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Laptop models and prices

You can see models and prices on the TELA ordering site.

Prices are subject to change without notice.

Models are subject to availability and may change without notice.

For more information on the current TELA models please see these suppliers:

Apple www.red.co.nz
HP www.hp.co.nz/laptopsforteachers
Toshiba www.toshiba.co.nz/tela

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How to apply

Go to the TELA ordering site to order your laptop and print these documents:

Checklist

• Application statement - complete and fax to the Ministry of Education at 04-463 7670
• Direct debit authority - only if your school doesn't have one set up
• Lease agreement

Post the signed orignal lease documents to:
Equico Limited
PO Box 6745
Wellesley Street
Auckland

Things to note

• When the relevant parties receive the documents and the laptop is in stock, the laptop will be sent to your school.
• It is important that you choose your laptop carefully. Once the lease has commenced the product cannot be returned. If the lease has not started then a return is possible at a cost of $118.40 inc GST per laptop plus courier collection charges which will be charged to your school. Demonstration laptops are available from each manufacturer for schools that wish to try before buying. The return fee does not apply to incorrect deliveries or faulty items.
• Laptops may be able to be shipped to schools in selected areas during the holidays. Please contact the TELA Helpdesk on 0800 438 468.
• If your "New or Ex-Lease Entitlement" is less than the number of eligible teachers you wish to order laptops for, you must add the teachers’ names to each order line before the order can be confirmed. The Ministry will check the teacher’s eligibility through the latest SUE report and will approve the orders for those teachers who meet the eligibility criteria.

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How payments are made

The leasing company (Equico Limited) will direct debit your school quarterly in arrears, from the lease start date, for the school’s portion of the lease.

The Ministry pays their portion of the lease directly to Equico. This will automatically start from when the order is processed. Schools don't need to complete any additional paperwork.

The Ministry subsidy is calculated on 2/3rds of the lowest cost base model at the time of ordering.

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Accounting for lease payments

Laptops for Teachers' leases are deemed to be operating leases rather than finance leases.

The annual lease cost of laptops supplied through TELA becomes part of the operational expense costs for the school and will be included in the school’s annual accounts as an expense item.

Likewise the reimbursements from teachers will be shown as operational income.

Please see the Annual Circular.

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Laptop indemnity

The teacher's laptop is automatically indemnified against accidental damage or loss for the duration of the lease. Laptops are not covered under the school's own insurance policy.

Please do not order a replacement laptop through the TELA ordering site, the Indemnity Scheme will arrange a replacement.

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Repair procedures

To log a fault please go to www.tela.co.nz/repair. If you need help using this site please contact the TELA Helpdesk on 0800 438 468.

Things to note

• TELA laptops must be serviced by the TELA approved service centres.
• It is important laptops are repaired as soon as they develop a fault rather than at the end of the lease period. Once a laptop is out of the lease period your school may be charged for repairs.
• Laptop batteries are considered a ‘consumable’ and we have only been able to negotiate a one-year warranty on them. They are expected to last longer than a year but if they fail your school may need to pay for a replacement.
• Data recovery is not covered under the TELA scheme. Schools must ensure they have their data backed up to DVD, flash drive or a server.

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What to do at end of lease

When your laptop is nearing the end of its lease, your school will receive a letter explaining how to return or keep the current laptop and order a new one.

• Log onto the End of Lease site
• Elect to keep or return the laptop
• Select courier pick up date (if returning)
• Print invoice and make payment (if purchasing)
• Complete and fax the summary sheet to 09 302 8279
• Order your replacement laptop on the Tela ordering site from 60 days before end of lease, or as specified on your letter.

Things to note

• You must return your old laptop 14 days before the lease expires. This is so any warranty or indemnity work can be done while the laptop is still under lease.
• If you don’t return your laptop within this time, your school will have to pay for any indemnity or warranty work needed.
• You or your school must save all files from the laptop being returned so you can transfer them to the new laptop.
• If an end-of-lease laptop is being kept for use outside your school by, for example, staff, family members or businesses, you must remove all software licensed for use by the Ministry, including Microsoft Office, and anti-virus software. The Ministry cannot transfer its software licenses to private individuals.
• If your school doesn’t complete end-of-lease procedures, you may not be able to lease new laptops or other equipment under the TELA scheme until any matters are resolved.
• If you have any questions about end-of-lease procedures contact Equico Finance 0800 378 426.

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Other products

It is possible to lease or purchase other unsubsidised products through the TELA lease. This includes laptop accessories and data projectors. The Ministry has negotiated reduced pricing on high quality data projectors in the Projectors for Classrooms Scheme.

For more information on what is available and pricing please access the TELA ordering site.

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Research on laptop use

Three providers are evaluating the TELA scheme. They are:

• The University of Waikato
• Auckland Uniservices, and
• Otago University.

Each research party is reviewing the impact on a different teacher year group over three years.

The evaluation findings to date are encouraging, with teachers making extensive use of their laptops in a range of professional activities to support their classroom practice. There is extensive independent research that confirms the very positive impact this scheme has had on teacher practice.

You can see the latest ICT research findings on Education Counts.

An information website for the TELA scheme for schools is available. Please click on the TELA FAQ's

TELA 2009 survey results

In March 2009, the Ministry's e-Learning team conducted a survey of all schools asking for feedback on the TELA laptop scheme. The results of the survey are available below.