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The Borough of London today warned it needed 10,000 more laptops for children who cannot go to school during lockdown as dispute over access to e-learning s ‘intensified.
The Tower Hamlets council said many disadvantaged children could not access the equipment through government programs because their parents or guardians could have a phone or computer. He added that many of the same children cannot attend classes in person due to the pressure on schools.
The same problem arises in other parts of London, raising concerns that access to school during lockdown has not been properly addressed by the government.
The Department of Education announced that it had distributed 700,000 devices to English schools to help underprivileged children during the pandemic.
But it uses “access” to a device to determine if a student needs free equipment. Tower Hamlets Mayor John Biggs warned that meant children living in a home with a device might not qualify, even if they are being used by someone else.
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The council, which has the highest child poverty rate in the UK, has written to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson asking him to rethink the policy.
“Teachers, parents and caregivers have expressed concerns that children cannot access the program online due to having to rely on shared devices. You cannot access scheduled classes without a dedicated and suitable personal device, ”Mr. Biggs wrote.
The government said children who do not have access to the equipment can be classified as vulnerable and attend school. However, Tower Hamlets warned that this will push student numbers “way beyond” what teachers could face.
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The council said 10,000 more devices are needed to ensure every child has access to online learning.
Other local authorities also struggled to access the devices. Camden council embarked on crowdfunding after more than 3,000 of its students were left without computer access during the first lockdown. Lambeth TechAid was set up last year and accepts donations of devices to distribute to children in the borough.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said laptops for disadvantaged children are being provided to schools, trusts and local authorities because they are in the best position to determine which children do not have access to a device.
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