Broadband News

'Broadband for all’ details released

Wednesday, 22 October 2009

By Garnet Roach garnet@consumerchoices.co.uk

The first 20,000 families to benefit from the Government’s £300 million plan to get low-income families online have been earmarked.

Schools Minister Jim Knight outlined details of the plan, which will pilot with 20,000 families in Suffolk and Oldham from February 2009.

To qualify for the grants, worth between £100 and £700, families would have to be on an annual income of less that £15,000 or be on benefits. The grants can be used to pay for a computer, software, internet access for a year and three years’ technical support.

Knight also wants IT firms to offer cheap broadband and discounted deals to pupils aged seven to 18 years and added that it was not just about offering computers to those who couldn’t afford them.

“There has to be a culture where families see home access is as important as making sure their children have pen, paper and calculator at school,” he said.

“The bottom line is that having home access to the internet or a computer is no longer an optional extra for school work - it is fast becoming essential. Schools are revolutionising how they educate faster than many families realise.

“There is no substitute for good classroom teaching but day-to-day school work is increasingly web and computer based - and it is clear that students get better results where technology is used effectively at home to study, research and communicate,” concluded Knight.

The scheme - which will go nationwide in autumn next year - aims to get all school-age children online by 2011. It is estimated that

The campaign will also focus on getting those families who can afford a computer - but are not yet convinced - to realise the educational benefits of internet access.

Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “Parents will have to apply for these grants direct with their local authority so it’s vital that the Government ensures that the people it is targeting are made aware of the scheme.

“It is so important that all school-age children have access to the internet at home to ensure that they don’t fall behind classmates on the other side of the digital divide.”

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