Frequently asked questions
What happened to the School Network Infrastructure Upgrade Project?
Stages 1 and 2 are complete. New funding has been announced and planning for Stage 3 is now beginning.
I am upgrading my school's computer network in the near future. What should I do?
One of the main issues arising from the 2004 Network Survey of schools was the lack of proper design in many school networks. This was a particular concern in small rural areas and many schools have been let down by sub-standard installations. This is a challenging area which requires some technical expertise.
Using the Ministry's recommended suppliers and certified installers and ensuring the upgrade meets the Ministry's network standards will give your school a high quality network infrastructure. This includes the use of installers who are certified to carry out a cabling installation that meets the manufacturer's standards and therefore come with at least a 20 year manufacturer's warranty.
I am commencing work on a new school building. Will the ministry fund the data networks I need to install?
The data cabling standards have been included in the Design Guidelines for schools. School boards undertaking property developments should ensure that their project manager is familiar with the data standards. These developments are funded through the usual 5YA process.
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Why are there two versions of the standards?
All schools that upgrade their network infrastructure are expected to do so within the standards specified by the Ministry. There are two versions of each of the cabling and switch standards. The .doc version is a briefer document for school managers and other decision makers to read. The .pdf version is a longer document that includes specification material and technical data for network designers and architects.
Why do I need to use a certified installer?
Schools are required to use an installer who is currently certified to install the manufacturers product you have chosen for your school. Warranties on product are usually invalid if a manufacturer or supplier has not recognised an installer as certified. If they have been certified then their names will be on the certified installer lists. If you think there is an error please contact network.upgrades@minedu.govt.nz in this regard.
What sort of warranty should I be getting?
Schools should expect a certified cabling installer to provide a 20 year warranty on installations.
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What is the Ministry’s view regarding wireless technology?
Wireless is an add-on service to a properly designed and installed data network. A wireless network alone is highly unlikely to deliver the high bandwith schools will require in the future.
Where can I get advice?
You can contact the Ministry at network.upgrades@minedu.govt.nz. This email will then be forwarded to the person best able to respond to your query.