Drugs and abuse school app suspended

AN app available to every pupil in Scotland has been suspended indefinitely after drug dealers and paedophiles targeted the programme.

Social networking service Yammer had been set up to allow pupils, teachers and anyone with access to a computer and password to connect with one another.

But concerns were raised last week around the content being shared with pupils. This resulted in the system having to be taken offline while a review into the app is carried out.

Education Secretary John Swinney yesterday confirmed Yammer will only be reinstated when he is ‘satisfied’ that the issues have been resolved. Critics have also urged him to begin a probe into why the app was available to children without greater checks.

Following an investigation by the chief inspector of schools, it emerged that drugs and alcohol were being offered to children on the site.

One user had a misspelling of the word ‘paedophile’ in their username, and had asked young girls for a location for a sleepover.

Writing to another profile, the user said: ‘Come to mine. Drugs, alcohol and ice cream supplied.’ Meanwhile, other profiles were found to be sharing graphic or violent content.

Every schoolchild has been registered for the social networking tool, but not all parents were aware their children had access to the site, or that their information could be shared.

Yammer is a Microsoft app available under Glow – Scotland’s national ‘digital learning platform’ – which can be used online on any smartphone or tablet.

Following the concerns of the chief inspector of schools, Yammer was suspended across the country.

Writing in the Courier yesterday, Mr Swinney said: ‘Last week the chief inspector of schools rightly took the decision to suspend the entire system. Until I can be assured that these issues are satisfactory resolved, the system will not be restored.’

Critics have called for an ‘urgent review’ into the decision to allow the app to continue, despite fears raised previously.

Scottish Labour education spokesman Iain Gray, said: ‘John Swinney must get to grips with this immediately. The SNP government must establish why apparent risks were ignored, what harm has been done to our children and what can be done to make the app safe.’

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘Any online service which is modelled around children and schools must be airtight.’