Local students are getting a major digital boost as part of a $10.8 million government initiative.
The $10.8 million, three year increase, is for a programme that supports teachers in the use of digital technology.
Tauranga Primary School and Merivale School are among the schools benefiting from the boost, which includes an additional 257 schools across New Zealand.
The ICT Professional Development programme provides teachers with the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to maximise the benefits of ICT in the classroom.


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Tauranga MP Simon Bridges says this is great news for local schools.
'Change in the digital world happens at a speedy pace. We need to put ICT tools in the hands of more students, but we need to make sure our teachers are ready, too,” says Simon.
He believes an increased focus on the effective use of ICT in schools will help to raise achievement levels for students.
'We want New Zealand students to take full advantage of the opportunities present in the digital world, and they need to learn ICT tools responsibly and appropriately.
'I'm really pleased that we're seeing benefits in our community from the government's commitment to boosting educational achievement,” says Simon.
Schools will work together on 43 local projects that will support government educational priorities in literacy, numeracy and delivering success for M?ori and Pasifika students.