Counciller Les Lawrence, a Birmingham City Council cabinet member has appealed for broadband providers to help families who are struggling to afford their service.

Lawrence said that government figures show that there currently 800,000 pupils without broadband access, causing a distinctive divide between those without internet access and those who are able to go online to study and research their subjects.

”21st century children and young people wishing to achieve economic wellbeing when they leave full-time education need to have the skills required by 21st century employers, including literacy, numeracy, communications and IT,” said Lawrence. “It is time that the suppliers of broadband internet connections look at the ways that they can reduce the cost for families that have children and young people at home requiring internet access for academic studies. This will need an integrated up approach between the internet suppliers, the government, local authorities and IT charities to be able to drive down prices.”

With the help of a £5.7m grant from central government, Birmingham City Council will be providing 2,000 school pupils with laptop computers this month, and there are plans to distribute another 6,000 by the end of the summer term as part of its universal home access program.

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