Poor broadband hits learning at schools

POOR broadband and other IT problems are blighting learning for some island schoolchildren, it emerged last night.

And it is likely to take at least a year for the problems to be resolved.

Computers not logging on, internet connectivity failing or else not coping with demand are just some of the problems experienced daily in the island's schools.

Sixth-form students laid bare these concerns at the Institute of Directors annual debate last night and said that the poor broadband service in schools was damaging their education.

The news stunned the audience of business leaders. The sixth-form pupils spoke candidly of wasted lessons and free periods due to failing WiFi and lengthy delays to log on to the internet through the States' Guernsey Grid for Learning.

'We will have to start being sent home in free periods to get work done,' said one Ladies' College sixth-former. A Grammar sixth-former described the situation as 'a fiasco'.

An IT specialist recruited by the Education Department 18 months ago to help resolve the problems spoke up effectively to apologise for the difficulties – which, he warned, would take at least another year to resolve.

JT's chief relationship officer, Tim Ringsdore said, however, that JT had won the contract to supply fibre to all the schools, a multi-million pound investment, and that should be completed within two years.