Jordan gets connected

JORDAN Coupe chats to Schools Minister Jim Knight watched by (from left) Mayor councillor Shoab Akhtar, mum Tracey, sister Kirsten, Kanwal Faiz and son Rehaan Khokhor who have also received a laptop and council leader Howard Sykes.

Pupil among first to receive a free laptop computer

JORDAN Coupe bubbles with pride as he tells Schools Minister Jim Knight about his new, free laptop.

The eight-year-old is one of the first pupils to receive a computer package worth up to £600 from the Government’s £300 million Home Access scheme.

Oldham is one of only two pilot areas for the initiative which aims to bridge the digital divide by making sure all children have access to on-line learning at home by 2011.

More than 900 low income families in the borough have received grants since the start of February and at least 7,500 are expected to benefit.

Jordan, a pupil at St Patrick’s RC Primary School, was impressed with his laptop and said: “I would give it 10 out of 10.

“I like doing maths games, learning about ancient Egypt and, if I do lots of work on my laptop, I like playing games.”

More than one million children do not have a home computer and the grant covers the cost of an approved package of a laptop or computer, basic software, a year’s internet access and three year’s technical support. Parents can top-up the grant to cover the cost of a higher specification.

Mr Knight visited Oldham yesterday to meet families who have benefited from the scheme which will go national later this year.

He said: “It is impossible to overstate the importance of IT to today’s children. As previous generations may look back fondly on inkwells and fountain pens, today’s children see laptops and memory sticks as their everyday materials for school.

“It is vitally important that we close the digital divide and do not allow it to swallow children from families who may not be able to afford a computer or the internet.

“Access to leaning material at home is no longer optional — it is essential.”

Jordan’s mum said: “It’s been so easy to get it all done. It wasn’t even two weeks from filling out the forms and getting the laptop.”

Positive IT Solutions in Ashton Road, Hathershaw, is the only small business which has been approved as a Home Access supplier. Director Paul Milner said it had made the company recession proof.

For more information contact Oldham Council on 0161-700 7770 or visit www.oldham.gov.uk/homeaccess or www.homeaccess.org.uk