Action needed to tackle the educational digital divide – Byrne

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education, Thomas Byrne, has called on the Minister for Education to increase supports to students who find themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide.

His comments come as schools are operating remote learning programmes since facilities were shut to students on the 12th of March. They will remain closed until at least April 19th.

Deputy Byrne commented, “The advent of remote learning on an unprecedented scale has resulted in unique challenges for many students, particularly those who are due to sit state examinations.

“Issues such as quality internet access in the home, access to computers and the difficulty of ensuring engagement among certain students have all become major issues. It is an unfortunate reality that those without access to the basic resources are dealing with an uneven playing field.

“It’s going to take a concerted effort from the Department of Education to get them onto an even keel.

“We need to see urgent action in providing laptops, memory sticks, internet dongles and other relevant equipment to students who do not currently have access to them.

“The Department should direct schools to collect information on students who do not currently have access to this equipment with a view to providing it to them for the duration of school closures. DEIS school students and those experiencing homelessness in exam years should be prioritised.

“The Department of Education should engage with Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann to examine whether students without access to the internet could have this provided through the placement of buses which are not currently in service in areas to act as Wi-Fi hubs.

“This has been done in some parts of the United States and may have limited benefit in some parts of the country.

“The reality is that some students live in areas without access to the internet. In these cases, it is vital that students are provided with the tools they need to continue their education.

“There may be limited availability of places in both rural schools and libraries which could be used by students while maintaining social distancing. These should be examined further. There may also be opportunities to provide students with IT equipment which is preloaded with suitable content, again prioritising DEIS school students and those experiencing homelessness in exam years.

“It is also important that student engagement with remote learning is closely monitored. Some students are not engaging with the remote learning provided by schools for a variety of reasons.

“All of these issues have arisen as a result of the unique circumstances we now find ourselves in. While it is impossible to fully replicate the school experience in the home, every effort must be made to maintain the highest possible level of supports for students at this time. Teachers and schools are doing their best to facilitate this unique transition, the Department of Education should support this to the highest degree possible,” he concluded.