Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, has welcomed the news 1,206 laptops and tablets have been distributed to disadvantaged students across the city.
The Conservative Government has also announced that a further 300,000 devices will be made available to pupils across the country, taking the total number of laptops and tablets for disadvantaged young people up to 1.3 million.
The additional 300,000 devices lifts government investment by another £100 million, meaning over £400 million will have been invested in supporting disadvantaged children and young people who need the most help with access to technology through the pandemic.
These extra devices are part of the Government’s mission to give every child a high-quality remote education while schools are closed.
Other measures it has taken include providing more than 54,000 4G routers to schools and colleges across England, ensuring that no child’s education is prohibited by a lack of internet access, and working in partnership with the UK’s leading mobile phone operators, including EE, Three, O2 and Vodafone, to deliver free internet access for those students until July 2021; with a number of these providers committing to work with the Government-funded Oak National Academy to provide free access to its online lessons.
To further boost the quality of remote education for all students, the Government has strengthened the minimum standards for remote learning provision, so every child, no matter where they learn, receives the great education they deserve.
Ben commented: "The Government had to make the extremely difficult decision to close schools to ensure the safety of students and staff but until they can reopen we're ensuring the most disadvantage young people across Milton Keynes still get access to the world class education they deserve.
"Alongside a raft of other measures including Free School Meals and holiday activities the 1,206 laptops delivered will help to make sure this Government is supporting children and families all over MK."