Kindergarten children could have been forgiven for thinking Christmas had come early when an older man with grey hair turned up and handed out a laptop to every boy and girl. It wasn’t Christmas, but it was the beginning of the One Education initiative’s rollout.

One Laptop Per Child Australia chief executive officer Rangan Srikhanta said the One Education project was the culmination of years of research.

“One Education proves that it is possible to distribute technology for social change, by placing complete ownership with those most responsible for its success: teachers, children and the community,” Mr Srikhanta said.

The man with the grey hair, independent member for New England Tony Windsor, was the man tasked with distributing the laptops yesterday.

He said the machines would give students a head start from the get-go.

“These laptops will encourage local students to engage with their education and prepare them to participate in the fast-growing digital economy that will come with the rollout of the National Broadband Network,” he said.