School Supplied Device

It is a requirement of AIS that students are expected to return school supplied laptops based on the Responsible Use Policy.

The condition of the device will be assessed. the student release exit form can only be signed if the device is in compliant with the Responsible Use Policy.

 All signatures are required in this process to release academic results from AIS.

BYOD

The School reserve the right to remove all school licensed software and management software from the BYOD devices. Students leavers have to come to B3 IT get the softwares uninstalled from their BYOD laptops by our technicians before they leave school.

MOVE ALL THE BELOW TO RUP

Defining acceptable Damage/Wear & Tear

We expect that in the everyday use of a MacBook Air (which is quite a robust device) , some signs of general wear will be present.

Despite the fact that a very strong protective cover is provided, we WILL accept light scratches and very small edge dents that have little impact on the visual appearance as shown in the images below.

Some light scratching and impact dents are acceptable, with the corner dents on the left image being at the limit of acceptable damage. It may be that a few more scratches than the right image are present, and this will also be acceptable.

Defining Unacceptable Damage/Wear & Tear

Any damage beyond the above would be unacceptable especially when a Protective Cover is provided.  See picture below for examples of unacceptable damages.

Repair costs will be sought where damage is present from a significant drop, as shown in the left two images, or where visible scratching and denting indicates a lack of care over a period of time as in the right hand image.

The provided protective cover is just as important.  Please do not put any stickers on the plastic as it can be difficult to remove.  The school provides the protective case and student should not remove it.

Example of Protective Cover for 2018 model.

What happens if your device has unacceptable damage

When you hand back your device, ICT staff will assess it for any unacceptable damage. If repairs are necessary, costs for repairs will be sought, and release forms will not be able to be signed until this has been covered. 

Note: 

• It is not necessary to wait for the repairs to be undertaken - we can sign the student release exit form on payment of the repair quote, and repairs will be conducted after this time.
• AIS seeks to minimise the cost of repair as much as we possible can. We use two repair companies: Innocom Tech and JK Tech for devices still in warranty (which require an Apple-authorised repairer) Digital Mage and Pronto for out of warranty devices.
• Families may seek independent quotes, and have repairs conducted independently under arrangement with the ICT Department.

Repair cost guide

The following table is a reasonably accurate measure of repair costs, after having seen a number of devices repaired over the last 18 months:

Dent repair costs depend on the extent of the dent - whether the dent affects both top and bottom casing or not. The image above of unacceptable corner damage, for example would be an $800 repair if the device was out of warranty.

What to do if your device is damaged

The following steps help significantly towards reducing stress for all parties concerned:

• Communicate with ICT well before the final day at AIS
• Get independent quotes to gauge the price point of repair costs
• Parents: inspect your son's or daughter's laptop to be aware of any potential issues on exit
• Seek clarification with ICT or the Leader for ICT support - Iswandi (iswandi_khan@ais.com.sg)

What AIS has to do on non-return of laptops

We have had the rare situation in the past where students become stressed about damage, and simply do not return the laptop. We have also had the rare need for students to return to a home country quickly, and have forgotten to return the school supplied laptop. 

Please note that for many reasons, AIS will actively seek the return of missing laptops. Where this cannot be completed by the school, AIS will be forced to lodge a police report. Non-return of a laptop is theft, and we are required for our insurance and accountability processes to take such steps. A police report against a student or family will likely have an adverse effect on any return to Singapore. We make this statement not as a threat, but as a reality. We simply have to do everything required of us to seek the return of laptops.

Questions:

A laptop is assessed as having unacceptable damage. Can we simply buy and keep the laptop?

This appears to be an ideal resolution to the issue, but currently our school supplied stock is encumbered by a lease. This means that our devices are not ours to sell, and that an early exit fee from the lessor is also applicable. In reality this makes the cost of buying almost the same as a new laptop. We are seeking ways around this, but at the time of writing, no solution has yet been found that is fair to all parties.

Summary

It is expected that students do what they can to respect and look after any equipment belonging to AIS, laptops included. The scaled cost to AIS of simply accepting all damage without question would prevent us from continuously providing enhanced and up today equipment to our students. Hence we need to seek fair recovery of above and beyond wear and tear.

Many thanks for your understanding.