Software
The Ministry of Education provides software for schools to support with the management of student and teacher data.
The Ministry and some providers currently offer fully-funded software packages for state and state-integrated schools.
Google software for schools
Under the Google for Education agreement, the Ministry of Education will cover the cost of the Chrome Education Upgrade and Google Workspace for Education Plus for New Zealand state and state-integrated schools.
The Google Agreement starts on 1 July 2021 and runs until 30 June 2024.
More detailed information on the Ministry of Education website »
Microsoft software for schools
The Ministry of Education Microsoft Enrolment for Education Solutions (EES) agreement runs from 1 January 2022 until 31st December 2024.
A range of cloud-delivered services and tools are available under the agreement, including:
- Office 365 Pro Plus
- Enterprise Mobility & Security suite
- Minecraft Education Edition
- M365 A5 Licences
- Student Use Benefits (SUB).
More detailed information on the Ministry of Education website »
Antivirus software
The Ministry funds the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint product for state and state-integrated schools/kura.
Apple technology in schools
Apple provides applications, 24/7 support, and teaching tools to educators in NZ state and state-integrated schools who purchase technology.
A new agreement between the Ministry and Apple means that teachers and each of their students in every NZ state and integrated school are able to have 24/7 direct access to Apple support.
More detailed information on the Ministry of Education website »
SketchUp licensing
SketchUp software offers free web-based 3D modelling applications to NZ schools/kura.
Free products available:
- SketchUp for Schools (a free web-based 3D modelling app) is available to schools, through Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) and Microsoft for Education platforms.
- SketchUp Free (free web app) alternative for schools not using Google and Microsoft.
Schools are advised to use the free web apps mentioned or contact Cyclone Computers via email: [email protected] to get more information, or a quote for SketchUp Studio software.
More detailed information on the Ministry of Education website »
If you have further questions contact the Ministry's ICT Helpdesk »
Schools receive Government-funded services to help them provide a safe and secure online environment for students and teachers.
N4L, the free, uncapped, managed network for schools, has been designed for safety. It provides online content filtering and network security services.
State and state-integrated schools not connected to the Network for Learning (N4L) Managed Network need to arrange and fund their own ICT safety and security solution.
No content filtering solution or firewall can guarantee full protection. It is important for schools to consider additional measures such as digital citizenship and cyber-safety programmes.
More information »
- Online security and safety – Ministry of Education website
- N4L Managed network website or phone N4L on 0800 LEARNING
- Netsafe provides guidance for schools and kura, including creating a digital safety management plan
School management systems perform two main functions:
- Administration of student and staff information
- Management of curriculum and pedagogical resources
The Ministry of Education works with both accredited and non-accredited SMS vendors to provide data-sharing services to schools.
Ministry of Education information
Contacting vendors of school management systems
Contact details for vendors of software for managing students and teachers, including:
- Student management systems (SMS)
- Learning management systems (LMS)
- Early notification systems (EN)
Sharing data from your Student Management Systems
- Information about the modules and systems compatible with each SMS such as ENROL, NSN, EN, SRT and IDE.
Transferring data between schools
- Information about how to get and use the Student Record Transfer (SRT) system, which electronically transfers student data between schools.
Te Rito is a web-based national information repository that connects ākonga and learner information across kura, schools, ngā kohanga reo and early learning services.
National Te Rito rollout has started and will continue throughout 2021-22. It will provide access to the standardised Learning Support Register (sLSR), where you can capture and manage ākonga learning support needs information and aggregated data dashboards that show patterns and trends across your cluster or Kāhui Ako.
An explanation of how to transfer data using Student Record Transfer (SRT).
The Ministry of Education has a range of initiatives to improve student attendance and engagement in schools.
- Managing student attendance
- Early notification – messages about absences – A text and email messaging service for sending customised messages to groups. It also provides a return path to the school’s register to update the reasons for a student’s absence. Early notification (EN) is not compulsory, but it significantly simplifies recording absences. EN is used together with the electronic Attendance Register (eAR) module of the school's Student Management System (SMS).
- Electronic Attendance Register (eAR) tracks attendance – How to use the eAR, applying to get it, codes for recording attendance, and resources about using it.
- Attendance services – The Ministry contracts providers to deliver this service throughout New Zealand. Referrals to Attendance Services need to be generated in the Attendance Service Application (ASA).
MyPortfolio provides a personal learning environment to record and showcase evidence of achievement, manage development plans, set goals, and create online learning communities.
Currently registration is free for New Zealand Schools. MyPortfolio works with any Learning Management System (LMS) supplied by the Ministry’s vendors.
The Ministry recognises that e-portfolio tools are an important teaching and learning resource.
