THOUSANDS of pupils in Fife including many in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area, are disadvantaged by not having internet access – and £1.8 million to address the issue is just a “sticking plaster”.

That’s the view of Lib Dem councillor Jonny Tepp, who said the coronavirus lockdown brought home just how many kids had struggled with online learning while schools were closed.

While welcoming Holyrood cash to tackle digital exclusion with 5,000 devices such as laptops and tablets, he asked why something wasn’t done to help the ‘have-nots’ get connected before.

Cllr Tepp said: “The fact that Fife appears to have been allocated a disproportionate share of funding (£1.8m of a £9m fund, with 5,000 of 25,000 devices coming to Fife) suggests that the Scottish Government recognises there is a huge problem in the Kingdom which has not been openly acknowledged or talked about before the pandemic struck.”

He said data collected by council officers from Fife schools in May showed that 6,000 children had limited access to devices and more than 1,100 lacked internet access.

The councillor continued: “During the pandemic, we were repeatedly reassured by officer briefings that those most in need had been identified and around 1,000 new or refurbished devices had been distributed to those identified as most in need.

“But the education service has now said that many thousands more were in need so we now know that the huge need that existed was not fully met.”

He added: “No recurrent funding has been announced and we know that devices have a relatively short shelf life so that this grant is a sticking plaster rather than a solution.”

Convener of Fife Council’s education and children’s services committee, Councillor Fay Sinclair, said: “Previously, pupils would have been able to arrange access to computers in classrooms, during study periods or perhaps after school. They would also have been able to make use of computers in local libraries.

“Part of the need for devices is restrictions on accessing these, particularly in the event of a local lockdown. It is fantastic that, even though pupils are back in school, more than 5,000 young people in Fife will get a new device thanks to this Scottish Government funding.

“The number of Fife children sadly still living in poverty is something that is acknowledged at both local and national level, with more than £10m each year coming direct to schools in Fife from the Pupil Equity Fund.

“This additional education investment allows headteachers to target additional resources where they will make the biggest difference.”

Acting head of education and children’s services, Angela Logue, said children’s learning had been monitored carefully during lockdown and, where access to the internet or IT equipment was “difficult”, devices were allocated and alternative arrangements were made where possible.

The Scottish Government said that a proportionate share of the funding was based on deprivation and rurality and a spokesperson added: “We are investing £25 million to address digital exclusion in schools.

“Funding allocations for digital devices and connectivity solutions have now been made to all 32 local authorities, who are responsible for making arrangements to secure and distribute equipment to address local needs.

“In total, the programme is expected to deliver around 70,000 devices and 18,000 connectivity solutions for disadvantaged children and young people across Scotland.

“This week, we announced that around 23,000 low income households without proper internet access will be helped to get online with the assistance of £15m of Scottish Government funding. The investment, part of the Connecting Scotland programme, will prioritise disadvantaged families with children and young people leaving care.

“These families will get a device, 12 months unlimited data, as well as technical support to get online safely and securely.”