"I've been in and out of this school for 20 years and observing the clunky and unreliable distance technology. Today, I feel you have finally got there," he said during a visit to the college yesterday.
The college is the second rural school in the South Island to have a UFB system installed under a $135 billion Government-funded project which will improve internet speed and capability across 86% of New Zealand over the next eight years.
Yesterday, Mr English, who is also the MP for Clutha-Southland, and Southland Mayor Frana Cardno toured classrooms to observe pupils using the technology.
Geography pupils were zooming in on maps to study the impact of climate change on the Tasman Glacier.
English pupils were accessing a subtitled movie on YouTube to develop their literacy skills.
A junior social studies class was "visiting" the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, in the United States. Senior mathematics pupils were stretching their skills by completing exercises from the US. And in the library, pupils were playing computer games during their morning break.
College principal John Mattison said ultrafast broadband had resulted in a "massive increase in capability" for the 160 pupils and their teachers.
The old system had not been able to handle many pupils online at the same time. Pupils were unable to quickly access graphic-rich or interactive sites.
But that had now changed.
"If we were operating at 2% before, we are operating at 100% now."
It was great to see the enthusiasm for the technology during his visit, Mr English said.
"This is technology which is making a difference where it really matters, at the interface between teachers and pupils."
Over the next three years, another 86 rural Southland schools will get UFB.
That was "fantastic", Mrs Cardno said.
"The child of today is very comfortable with technology. It will be particularly good for boys, and for children with learning difficulties who relate more to visual learning."
