A £25 million programme that was expected to deliver 70,000 digital devices and 18,000 connectivity solutions for disadvantaged children and young people across Scotland has failed to hit target.
Data released under freedom-of-information legislation and revealed by The Ferret investigative news website shows that, by the end of January this year, a total of 63,382 devices - including tablets and laptops - had been distributed, 6,618 short of the Scottish government’s stated target of 70,000 devices.
In addition, 11,846 “connectivity solutions”, such as wi-fi routers, had been provided to families in Scotland, less than two-thirds of the Scottish government target of 18,000.
The figures also highlight significant variations in uptake across the country from local authorities.
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However, Stephen McCabe, children and young people spokesperson for local authorities’ body Cosla, said that many councils had other systems in place to support access to devices and internet connections. He said the total numbers would be higher than those shown in the government statistics.
Lack of digital devices ‘a concern for online learning’
For instance, in the Scottish Borders the figures showed that just 20 pupils in every thousand received laptops or devices via the scheme. However, that particular council gives every pupil from P4 to S6 an iPad.
Access to digital devices and the internet connectivity needed to take part in remote learning has remained a concern throughout the pandemic.
One of the first Education Scotland remote learning reviews published at the end of January said: “Access to online learning remains a concern for schools where young people do not have access to suitable digital devices or need to share devices with others in the home.”
Inspectors also found that almost half of primary pupils at times shared a digital device with someone else at home. The proportion was lower for young people at secondary school (about 22 per cent).
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “These figures cover the £25 million investment announced in May last year. Given that schools know their learners and families best, local authorities themselves were responsible for identifying those in need of support and for securing and distributing devices and connectivity solutions using allocated funding.”
A new package of £45 million to support remote learning was announced in January. The Scottish government said councils could use the funding to recruit additional school staff, buy additional digital devices or provide additional family support.
