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National education network trial extension

The National Education Network (NEN) Trial Extension is the third phase of an ongoing project to connect schools and content and service providers to our network. This project is funded by the Ministry of Education and is a part of their Ultra-fast Broadband in Schools programme.

About the NEN trial extension

Since 2008, REANNZ has been operating a trial of a National Education Network for schools on behalf of the Ministry of Education. The purpose of the NEN trial extension is to expand the existing NEN trial to 101 schools and extend the end date of the trial beyond June 2011.

Thrity schools that are part of the Greater Christchurch Schools Network (GCSN) were the first to connect to the NEN as part of this trial extension. REANNZ has connected schools in the Nelson Loop and the Mid Canterbury cluster and have recently connected a selection of content and service providers.

Roles and responsibilities

REANNZ's role in this project is a connectivity one. We will lead the:

  • procurement of network and related services, including access between the school and the network PoP
  • local connection support (not internal schools networks)
  • liaison with network and related suppliers
  • liaison with schools over network implementation

REANNZ will not be:

  • providing the curriculum or administration applications and services
  • providing teacher professional development
  • delivering the internal schools network upgrades (SNUP)

As the educational lead and sponsor of the project, the Ministry of Education will be responsible for educational policy and outcomes surrounding the project and school eligibility.

The NEN Trial Extension is supported by the Government and the Ministry of Education, and is part of a range of initiatives announced in the 7 December 2009 edition of the Education Gazette.

Participating schools

Schools connected to the NEN as part of the trial extension include:

  • 23 original proof of concept schools (from Auckland, Hamilton, Manawatu, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch)
  • 30 Greater Christchurch Schools Network schools
  • 25 Nelson Marlborough Loop schools
  • 23 Mid Canterbury schools

See our member list for the names of participating schools, as well as the original trial schools and other schools who have joined REANNZ independently as Associate Members.

Ongoing technical support for participating schools

For the NEN trial extension, a technical support person, called a network wrangler has been appointed for each regional cluster to assist schools getting connected to the network and to provide ongoing support. The job of the wrangler is to take responsibility for identifying and resolving any performance issues on the network connection with the school. Schools continue to be responsible for the quality and performance of their own in-school networks and ICT. 

Contact your local loop co-ordinateor for details of your network wrangler.

Contact

You can contact the Ministry of Education for any NEN Trial Extension enquiries regarding educational policy, content and services and school eligibility at:
nen.trial@minedu.govt.nz

The NEN Trial Extension contact at REANNZ is Andrea Jones. She can be contacted directly at:
andrea.jones@reannz.co.nz
cell: +64 21 288 0933
ddi: +64 4 913 6362



by Dr. Radut.