Local paper Hereford Times has reported on calls for Boris Johnson to take urgent action to help pupils lacking the devices or connections needed to learn at home as schools shut down during the third lockdown

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and three ex-education secretaries, Lord Blunkett, Alan Johnson, and Baroness Morris, are among those who have written to the Prime Minister calling on him to act regarding shortages of remote learning equipment and accessibility.

Charities, unions and current MPs have also co-signed the letter with ex-Cabinet ministers in a bid to highlight the issue as controversy continues over how many schools should be closed.

The letter was co-ordinated by Labour MP Siobhan McDonagh, who said Ofcom estimates that between 1.14 million and 1.78 million children in the UK (nine percent) do not have home access to a laptop, desktop or tablet, and that more than 880,000 children live in a household with only a mobile internet connection.

These figures are demonstrating serious barriers to access for decent internet connection, a problem which has long plagued residents in rural areas.

Data from the Office for National Statistics also reported that only 51 percent of households earning between £6,000 and £10,000 have internet access.

Full article:

Hereford Times - PM urged to provide more devices and connections for pupils’ remote learning