It has been revealed that schools in Perth and Kinross, Fife, Stirling and Clackmannanshire have spent nearly £1million on tablet computers, like iPad’s, over the past three years.
Perth and Kinross Council spent the most with £327,279 of tax-payers money being used to buy shiny new tablets for classrooms across the region.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has welcomed the increasing use of digital resources but has cautioned that children might be losing out on traditional skills like handwriting, grammar and spelling.
The Conservative MSP has also warned that the short lifespan of many of these devices could result in a costly replacement bill in just a few years’ time.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“Ultimately our youngsters have to learn skills that will be applicable in the world of work and being digitally literate is definitely a part of this.
“However, there is a danger of devaluing the cornerstones of traditional education if there is too great a shift towards solely using digital resources. The ability to write legibly, and form sentences without the use of a spell/grammar checker must be protected.
“In university and school exams there are no spell/grammar checkers to help students and I would like to see the fundamentals of the English language protected.
“Teacher training must also match investment in tablets as there is no point in spending thousands on iPad’s without being able to use them to their full potential.
“Furthermore, due to planned obsolescence many of these devices are not built to last and local authorities could be faced with similar bills for replacement and repair every few years which I would hope is considered when buying on this scale.”