Fewer than 15 per cent of Lanarkshire school pupils given free laptop promised by Scottish Government

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Fewer than 15 per cent of North Lanarkshire school pupils have been provided with a free laptop or tablet promised by the Scottish Government.According to data provided by the Scottish Conservatives, just 6933 devices had been distributed in North Lanarkshire out of 49,232 pupils - just over 14 per cent.In neighbouring South Lanarkshire, just 12 per cent of kids have been given a new laptop or tablet with 5544 devices having been distributed out of 45,091 pupils.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The Tories Central Scotland MSP Meghan Gallacher called the failure "appalling".

She told Lanarkshire Live : "This is typical case of the SNP overpromising and then completely failing to deliver. “Our children and young people are let down at every turn by SNP Ministers and it is woeful only 11 per cent of them in my region have received a laptop or tablet.“This was a flagship election promise trumpeted by Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney and SNP figures.

It is clear they simply are not going to meet it.“After two years of disruption to their education, our pupils deserve far better than failed promises."This will hit our most deprived pupils the most, despite Nicola Sturgeon’s repeated pledge to close the attainment gap in our schools.“Those words ring hollow now with these new statistics being revealed.