4th August 2025. In our opinion, every pupil entering secondary school should have their own laptop.
It’s an essential investment in the education of our young people and to uphold the principle of free education for all.
Digital exclusion is a problem in many sectors of society, for a host of different reasons. Arguably, the age group most affected is young people – children at school. They are just starting out in life and are daily in an environment which leaves them further and further behind.
A laptop that will last for five years will see pupils through secondary school, and all related skills – staying safe online, learning relevant work skills with a device and software that is familiar in the workplace – can all be taught in the classroom. Solving this problem “at source” will help solve other digital exclusion disasters down the line, such as job seeking and NHS services – all these areas that we have digitised without providing a universal means of access.
Solving digital exclusion is a government duty. Being digitally savvy is not something that should be left to chance. It’s now an essential life skill.
Currently, solving digital exclusion is largely left to third sector organisations who depend on corporations ticking a CSR box. It’s a Dunkirk small boats approach. In order to properly embed digital inclusion into education, there needs to be a serious will – and budget – dedicated to it. Repurposing the government’s own stock of end-of-life computers would go a long way.
For the full version of this article please visit https://inclusivity.info/opinion-lets-get-digital-inclusion-done/