With at least one in four schoolchildren lacking good quality access to a home computer, there are fears that these pupils face increasing disadvantage. Enter the Equity Digital Divide campaign.
We live in an age where technological advances are commonplace, with our schools better equipped than ever before. But outside the school gates, too often it's a different story. Statistics show that there are huge variations in the quality of learning that takes place at home.
For example, according to a survey into ICT in schools, carried out by the DfES in 2004, at least one in four schoolchildren in the UK lacks home internet access for their studies. As children spend just 15 per cent of their lives at school, it's clear that the learning that takes place at home is extremely important.
And where teachers are successful in embedding ICT across the curriculum, being without home access could actually increase disadvantage. Now a new national campaign, launched last September, aims to bridge what it calls the digital divide, aiding the millions of children who are currently denied the opportunity to use a computer outside the classroom to help with their school work.
Founding members of the Equity Digital Divide campaign are: British Educational Suppliers Association; e-Learning Foundation; National College for School Leadership; Specialist Schools and Academies Trust; Times Educational Supplement.
- If you would like to find out more about the Digital Divide campaign, visit: www.equitycampaign.com, where you can apply to join online, or call the e-Learning Foundation on 01372 824372.
