Frustrated Lochaber parents have approached Highland Council for help to compensate for the gaps in their children’s education caused by poor internet connections.
Families in areas without superfast broadband are having to foot the bill for huge amounts of 4G mobile data on their phones – the only way in which they can get a workable signal.
In Glenachulish, there are around ten families with school-age children having to use their phones to try and keep up with their children’s education during lockdown.
Jane and Barry Moran’s two children – Lewis, 16, and Harris, 10 – have to take it in turns to use Mrs Moran’s mobile phone to create a hotspot for the council Chromebook they share.
The family has unlimited broadband through BT, but the signal simply can’t cope with demand.
Mrs Moran said: “Luckily I am a part-time nurse so the provider is allowing me unlimited data for six months for the same price.
“We probably have about three months left.
“I have a 10GB allowance but I’ve seen it go up to 120GB.
“We’re already paying £60 for our BT broadband package, but it’s still copper, with no improvement in sight.
“It can’t cope with our needs and the 4G signal isn’t strong enough for us all to do everything we need to do.”
Mr Moran said: “The children’s education is suffering. They can’t even upload their work or download the videos they’re supposed to watch.”
Local councillor Andrew Baxter has taken the families’ concerns to the council.
He said he feared the situation was creating two tiers of children – those fortunate enough to have good broadband and others without it who are being left behind.
Mr Baxter said: “This will go on after the summer as kids will still be learning at home for half the week.”
Highland Council was unable to provide comment.
