While NSW primary school students were asked to bring hand sanitiser, tissues and paper towel at the start of this year, public high school students were expected to turn up with their own iPad or laptop.
For the first time, the Department of Education and Communities has a formal Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy after schools held trials last year in preparation for the end of the federally funded free laptop program.
At most public high schools students in Years 8 and 9 who missed out on a government laptop are now required to bring an iPad, a tablet or a laptop that must be compatible with school’s existing Wi-Fi network.