Councillors have called for a speedy rollout of faster internet services at all schools in Dumfries and Galloway to ensure pupils don’t lose out.
Broadband is to be installed at all schools throughout the region to allow for effective digital learning in the classroom.
However, the rollout has been dragging on and five primary schools – Sanquhar, Sheuchan, St Joseph’s, St Ninian’s and Leswalt – are still waiting on broadband internet connections.
Mid and Upper Nithsdale Councillor Jim Dempster is fed-up with the installation delays.
At Thursday’s education committee, Mr Dempster pointed out that he complained four months ago about the lengthy wait for broadband at Sanquhar Primary.
He said: “Yet here we are today, and there is still no indication of any timescale, or any exchange of pressure being put on BT to complete these works.
“It’s really sad that we find ourselves in this situation. What I’m hoping to get is an assurance that I will get an update with a timescale, including when works will be carried out and when the completion date is expected to be.
“I would expect an aggressive approach taken to get BT Openreach on site. They’ve already had four months since I wrote to a council officer and we’re now in a situation where we have children learning in a cluster of different levels – because one cluster has access to broadband and the other doesn’t.”
Graeme McIllorum, the council’s senior manager for business and technology solutions, told members: “We have experienced very significant delays with Openreach providing us with the necessary information about how they’re going to do it, whether they’re going to dig up the footway, what cable runs inside the school and outside, and so on.
“We’ve now got that, and that was sent back a fortnight ago. We still haven’t had an installation date from them but certainly I will go back and put as much pressure on as I can to get that date for you.”
Meanwhile, Stranraer and the Rhins Councillor Willie Scobie raised concerns about wider broadband connectivity problems in the west of the region.
He said: “It’s the whole broadband west of the region issue. When is it going to be upgraded?
“If kids are unable to access some of their course work then that is a serious concern – and we’ve got to raise that with the Scottish Government in terms of the rollout.
“It’s not just the schools, it’s the general rollout.”
He said: “I think the due date for it is March 2022. On individual cases, in and around Stranraer, there are certainly issues with the overall capacity in the Stranraer area.”
