Coronavirus: Only half of 200,000 laptops delivered to disadvantaged school children in two months

Just over half of the 200,000 laptops to be provided to disadvantaged school children have been delivered two months after the government pledged to help vulnerable pupils through the coronavirus crisis.

Education minister Nick Gibb, who disclosed the figures, added it was the government’s “clear intention” to get all children back to school in September – after scrapping plans last week for all primary pupils to return before the summer holidays.

It comes after the Department for Education (DfE) announced in April it would provide devices to disadvantaged pupils while the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, told MPs the same month 200,000 would be delivered through an £85m scheme.

Pressed on the issue of access to technology for pupils without access, Mr Gibb told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that a “huge” number of computers had been delivered by central government. “100,000 have been distributed to local authorities and they are distributing those to schools,” he aded.

Questioned on the education secretary’s 200,000 target, he claimed there had been issues with “huge demand” of devices during the pandemic.

“There’s more on the way,” he said. “This is a massive operation. We have managed to get built 200,000 laptops and tablets in the global market place when there is huge demand for these items – they have been successfully delivered on time and they are now with the local authorities who are distributing those items to children who absolutely need them.”

Mr Gibb also rejected the claim it formed “part of a pattern” of government making promises through the crisis it was unable to fulfil, telling the BBC: “No, you pick on the things that go wrong and fail to tell your listeners of things that are actually going on.

“Within weeks of the schools closing we had materials for parents and schools to use at home. We have initiated this massive £100m purchase of computers for children who do not have access to computers. It is being fulfilled on time – these are getting to children.”

According to the latest raw data from the Department for Education (DfE) by the 14 June 114,536 laptops and tablets had been delivered, or dispatched, to local authorities or trusts alongside 22,518 wireless routers.

Responding to Mr Gibb’s comments, the IPPR think-tank said they had identified one million children in March without digital access. “This digital divide needs urgently closing,” the organisation posted on social media.

On Friday, the government also announced state schools in England will be granted an additional £1bn of funding in a bid to help children catch-up on teaching time lost during the Covid-19 lockdown, with the most disadvantaged pupils to have access to tutors through a £350m national programme for the 2020-21 academic year.

Boris Johnson said the package would “help head teachers to provide extra support to children who have fallen behind while out of schools”, adding: “I am determined to do everything I can to get all children back in school in September, and we will bring forward plans on how this will happen as soon possible.”