Here's a snippet from Radio NZ that highlight benefits for small rural schools that participate in online learning in the VLN schools network. Please check out the whole story and listen to the audio here.

'Kids around New Zealand have had to get to grips again with virtual learning during lockdown, but linking up online has been the norm for this 20-student country school for about a decade.'

Josh Hull is taking part in the rural group for the first time when Country Life visits and is going over the presentation he's created on his laptop with photos of his pets and life on the farm.

He has been short of friends his age to hang out with at Makuri and is looking forward to meeting others who are into the same things.

Murray Grimmer, the sole charge teacher/principal, says VLN enables his senior pupils to work with their peers and brings them opportunities they would otherwise miss out on because of their isolated location.

"It's a great thing. It brings other teachers in and that releases my time," he says.

"There's a whole raft of subject areas that VLN offers that I couldn't necessarily offer and also teaching expertise."

There's extra support in maths and English if needed but Murray's putting the focus on creativity and enrichment at the moment.

The older students can choose a subject based on their interests, from languages to design to kapa haka.

The small rural schools like Makuri contribute funds rather than a teacher to the network."

'Charlotte and Rosie are adept in the virtual classroom, putting down their comments in the chat and muting and unmuting their mics with ease.

"It feels, like, comforting. I'm around people that love doing what I'm doing," Charlotte says after the class.'

RNZ story and listen to the audio here