Most city pupils still to receive council laptops

More than threequarters of laptops ordered by Dundee City Council last year to help disadvantaged pupils with home learning are yet be delivered.

Figures obtained from education bosses show, as of this week, just 150 laptops out of a bulk order of 1,250 had been handed out.

This was a second bulk order, placed last autumn.

Delays by the companies providing the devices were said to be to blame, with a “significant amount of equipment ” due to be delivered to pupils next week.

The new school term begins on Monday, with the majority of pupils across Scotland expected to be learning at home until at least February.

A previous order for 640 laptops was delivered by October 19, meaning around 790 devices have been handed out in

Dundee, lower than number delivered Tayside and in Fife.

Around 1,900 devices have been distributed in Angus, while in Perth and Kinross more than 900 will be ready for use when remote learning begins next week.

In Fife, more than 4,000 devices have already been handed out, with a further 1,000 expected to be distributed in the next two weeks.

However, issues with supply have also been reported in the kingdom, and The Courier understands more than 800 devices from an order made last summer are yet to be delivered.

These devices are not expected to arrive before February due to “significant global supply issues”.

Head of education and children’s services at Fife Council, Angela Logue, said: “Any children or young people identified by the schools as being unable the in to engage in online learning due to having no access to a device will be supported in school.

“Where possible, we are also reconfiguring school devices so they can be used by children and young people at home.

“It is important to highlight that not all remote learning will or should be online for our children and young people.”

Dundee City Council moved to reassure families more devices will be handed out as soon as they are received.

A spokesman said: “In addition to digital resources already held and distributed by schools, the council has invested more than £800,000 of extra Scottish Government funding for 2,000 G5 Probooks and connection packages.

“The vast majority of these devices will be issued to pupils who have been identified by schools very soon following delivery from suppliers. Pupil support workers carried out doorstep deliveries during the first lockdown. Our school staff are working hard to provide remote learning from next Monday.”

Labour councillor Mi c h a e l Ma r r a , who represents D u n d e e’s Lochee ward, took aim at the Scottish Government, saying its digital preparedness work is “woefully inadequate”.

“It is unacceptable that so many months after the first lockdown we have thousands of households without devices.”

A Scottish Government spokesman sa id £ 25 million had been allocated to address digital exclusion and more than 50,000 devices distributed.

“Councils are continuing distribution and the programme is expected to deliver around 70,000 devices for disadvantaged children and young people across Scotland.”

It is unacceptable that so many months after the first lockdown we have thousands of households without devices