Nationwide Free Pupil Laptop & Broadband Scheme

[somabc]

A scheme to give free laptops to pupils from poor backgrounds is being rolled out to 270,000 families in England. Under this new scheme, which was due to go nationwide last autumn and was championed by former education minister Jim Knight, the family gets the laptop to keep, but the broadband connection is funded for one year. After that they can decide whether to keep funding the connection themselves. Not all children on free school meals, the government's benchmark for poor children, will get computers under the scheme. But children in council care and with specific educational needs will be prioritised. The announcement comes as new research involving 200 schools and colleges suggested 80% were seeing cuts to their IT budgets. The poll for the technology solutions provider the Stone Group also suggested just 14% of schools offered out of hours technical support to staff.

 

BBC News - Poorer pupils to be given free laptops

[localzuk]

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/behind-red-door/47727-gordons-latest-way-spend-our-money-3.html#post437477

[somabc]

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/behind-red-door/47727-gordons-latest-way-spend-our-money-3.html#post437477

 

Shouldn't be hidden away in BTRD though? It's not exactly easy to find by searching as I did for "free laptop" and some people here may want to use it in their school.

 

More details - http://www.edugeek.net/forums/behind-red-door/47727-gordons-latest-way-spend-our-money-3.html#post437497

Edited January 11, 2010 by somabc