I have been reading, viewing and listening to all the concerns raised about children missing out from attending school.
The issues are discussed as problems. However, they need not be ‘problems’, there are precedents and possible solutions for this situation.
Open University – The OU has been operating for decades as a home/TV-based learning facility. Surely a similar scheme could be adapted for school children of various ages? It is an ideal medium for other subjects in secondary schools. The BBC could be pressed into service to make the facility available nationwide at the click of a button or two.
There has also been discussions about children from deprived homes not having access to computers or laptops. Using TV could partially overcome the issue as most households have televisions these day.
Donation of laptops/computers – I understand that there are several schemes in operation to provide these for children of lower incomes etc, which brings me to the point about all the SHDC councillors being issued with newer laptops in the not too distant past. These computers like the ones replaced were paid for from our council tax. Could the councillors not donate their redundant computers to local children in need of these resources?
I commend these suggestions for consideration and hopefully implementation sooner rather than later.
We have the means and the resources to resolving these issues, all we need, is the will power, Carpe diem.
Phillip James
Fleet Hargate
