A KEY parents' group says more pressure could be put on parents to buy the latest tablets or laptops to use at state schools.
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Tasmanian State School Parents and Friends president Jenny Eddington said she expected parents to feel under pressure to buy their children replacements as computers bought under the federal government's laptop scheme become outdated.
From the start of 2013, some Tasmanian schools will join the Bring Your Own Device program, which would allow students to use their own iPad or laptop in the classroom.
``I think parents will feel it's coming from the school now, not just the kids, to have to get your own iPad computer or the latest device,'' Ms Eddington said.
She said some parents were ideologically against buying an iPad or laptop for school use.
Ms Eddington said she was unsure how issues surrounding security of the devices at the school would be handled.
She said all Penguin High School students were expected to have an iPad by the start of school next year and a purchase plan for parents has been put in place.
Ms Eddington said the school expected that the use of the iPad would soon see the end of hardcopy textbooks as they become accessible online.
Education Department deputy secretary Liz Banks said schools were able to buy a range of information technology devices, such as iPads, for their students and some already had.
Some schools already allow students to use their own devices for learning, she said.
Ms Banks said students were not expected to buy their own iPads for classroom use.
It is understood schools would retain a small number of computers for the use of all students.