The Welsh Conservatives’ Shadow Minister for Children and Young People – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has today (8 July) urged the Welsh Government to do more to support digitally excluded learners.

Her intervention came as many children are still waiting for delivery of the necessary technology required to allow them to engage with the school curriculum from their homes.

Speaking after her questioning of the Welsh Education Minister, Janet said:

“I have been contacted by several parents who have struggled to access online teaching facilities over the last few months, including the guardians of one child who are still waiting to receive a long-promised laptop from the relevant authorities.

“Whilst I welcome the Welsh Government’s announcement that a further £1 million will be allocated to support children to re-engage with education over the summer holidays, serious questions remain over how this re-engagement will be achieved.

“With a recent survey report finding that only 1.9% of students have received four lessons per day since the start of lockdown, there is a deep concern that an entire generation of our young people risk missing educational targets.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic poses a growing threat to our children’s educational attainment, the Welsh Government should avoid compounding this with a further digital exclusion of those children who cannot easily access the internet.”

ENDS