10 January 2008
Schoolchildren from low-income families will go online in greater numbers, thanks to a new multi-million pound government initiative.
The plan will install broadband connections at the homes of the pupils - allowing them to communicate with teachers and access coursework through the internet.
Around £30 million of funding has been allocated to the project, minister for schools Jim Knight told education technology expo BETT 2008.
A £600,000 pilot for the broadband project, covering 50 schools in deprived areas of Birmingham, will fine-tune the scheme.
Mr Knight also told the conference that plans to put all school reports online by 2010 were going well.
"We know from schools around the country that if families are going to be involved in their children's education really effectively, they need a good two-way flow of information," he said.
However, speaking to the Reuters news agency, head of the National Union of Teachers Steve Sinnott expressed scepticism about the report plans.
"Jim Knight has to be far more specific about his goals for real time reporting to parents," he commented.
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