500 iPad cases with a total of 8,000 devices are currently being issued to all municipal schools in Bonn. Mayor Katja Dörner presented the procurement initiative at a press event on Thursday, November 19, 2020, together with the head of the education authority, Hubert Zelmanski, at Siebengebirgsschule. Principal of the school, Achim Bäumer, reported on the use of the tablets in the classroom.

On 1 September 2020, the Bonn City Council passed an emergency resolution to equip the city's schools with tablets for use in the classroom using a federal and state coronavirus funding program and the Good Schools 2020 funding program. This is intended to improve the schools' digital set-up, particularly in view of the considerable additional challenges posed by the coronavirus. In addition, pupils who do not have the necessary equipment for remote learning themselves are to be supported where necessary. The decision on the use of the devices will be made by the schools.

Mayor Katja Dörner said at the meeting: "The distribution of the devices represents an important step in the digital equipment of our schools. The corona pandemic has shown us how urgent digitalization is in the education sector. Children who do not have digital equipment at home must not be left behind by 'learning at a distance'. This 'remote learning' requires a rethink from an educational perspective, but also needs technical support to make it a success."

All devices are integrated into the existing school IT infrastructure, where they are centrally managed, operated and maintained. Many testimonials show that the devices have a long battery life and can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. Around 1,000 iPads were issued to all primary and special schools in Bonn and tested back in the fall of 2019.

The demand for digital devices is very high throughout Germany. The city of Bonn took the necessary steps very early on when it became aware of the funding initiative. Delivery to schools began at the start of November.

"Digitalization in our schools, in particular the creation of the technical infrastructure - fibre optic connections, structured cabling, nationwide WiFi at 89 municipal schools - unfortunately cannot be implemented at the push of a button. We are working hard on this. However, the new tablets can be switched off at any time at the touch of a button: "If the devices are stolen or lost, they are switched off immediately and are unusable and worthless to third parties," says Hubert Zelmanski, Head of the Education Department.

All teachers are also to be equipped with devices in the near future. The order for 3,870 devices has already been placed. Delivery is scheduled to begin before Christmas. Here too, the devices can be automatically deactivated centrally and rendered unusable in the event of theft or loss.

The aim is to facilitate and support lessons and, if necessary, distance learning in particular with these digital "tools" by providing school-bound digital devices for pupils and teachers.

Principal Achim Bäumer reported: "The iPads support us in the classroom and give us the opportunity to impart knowledge to our pupils in a variety of ways. They help to create greater educational equality."

The procurement of the 8,000 digital devices will cost around 4.6 million euros. Refinancing will come from federal and state funding programs, including the so-called Corona-Sofortprogramm (supplementary agreement to the DigitalPakt Schule) and the Gute Schule 2020 program. Around 1.2 million euros will be incurred by the city of Bonn for commissioning, maintenance and support. The total volume of the measure is around six million euros.