9 February 2010
Immediate release

SNP REJECTS UK INITIATIVE TO GIVE FREE LAPTOPS TO POOREST CHILDREN

The SNP Government have rejected an initiative by the UK Labour Government to offer the poorest pupils IT equipment to help improve educational attainment.

In response to a Parliamentary Question by Elaine Murray MSP, Education Secretary Mike Russell refuses to consider introducing the Home Access Scheme in Scotland. This £300m scheme was introduced by the Labour UK Government last month and will provide free laptops and internet connections to 270,000 families in England.

It will allow children most in need, those in care and from the poorest homes, to apply for a grant to cover the cost of this essential equipment for learning. A recent study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies suggested that having a laptop at home could lead to a two grade improvement in GCSE subjects.

Elaine Murray MSP said: “The refusal by the Education Minister to follow the UK’s lead and introduce this scheme is deeply disappointing.

“The evidence from the Institute of Fiscal Studies shows a laptop at home can have enormous benefits for a child’s education. In 2010 IT is a key component to learning and access to a computer is as essential as paper and textbooks.

“The Home Access Scheme would ensure some of the poorest children across Scotland got the opportunity to use IT at home to help with homework and exam revision. They have been denied this and I am deeply concerned that they will be left behind as they are unable to take advantage of all the online learning resources now available.

“It is grossly unfair that children in Scotland are going to be disadvantaged compared to their counterparts in England.

“It is even starker in Dumfries and Galloway where just across the border these free laptops are available.

“This comes in the wider context of an SNP Government that has failed to commission any new schools in Dumfries and Galloway and is cutting the number of teachers. “

ENDS

CONTACT – ANDREW MACKENZIE 07769206856

NOTES TO EDITORS
1. More information about the UK Government’s £300m Home Access Scheme can be found here: www.homeaccess.org.uk
2.  Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive , given the recent study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies suggesting that having a laptop at home could lead to a two-grade improvement in one subject at GCSE, whether it will introduce a scheme similar to the £300 million Home Access scheme that will benefit 270,000 families in England.
(S3W-31032)
Mr Michael Russell :
We recognise the important role of technology in addressing some of the barriers to engagement and attainment in education.
The Scottish Government is adopting a comprehensive approach to the delivery of sustainable educational benefits and change for those most in need. This includes provision of the national education platform known as Glow, serving a potential user base of 1.5 million; development of national and user generated digital content; a collaborative national procurement framework to enable local authorities to purchase ICT equipment at competitive prices; promotion of games based learning and a review of Scotland’s previous digital inclusion strategy.