During the pandemic lockdown periods, it quickly became apparent that a large number of children were unable to gain the most from on-line learning through lack of suitable devices and / or broadband access. As highlighted in a number of news broadcasts, some were restricted to using a smart phone with consequential connection costs. Although there was a positive public response for old devices to be repurposed, the impact across the country was inevitably piecemeal. The long term impact on children of this capability shortfall is probably unlikely to ever be defined in any significant detail, but society must not ignore the underlying issue of differences in the provision of education.
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