50 signatures reached
To: Michelle Donelan, Minister for Universities
Provide Free Data and Unlimited Broadband for Students
The department for education has partnered with Mobile Phone and Broadband companies to provide free data and unlimited broadband for school children who are being forced to learn from home whilst schools are shut.
We are asking that the same is provided for students in Further and Higher Education who are also being forced to learn online and remotely.
Why is this important?
Students are currently being hit by the triple whammy of still needing to pay rent and fees, not being able to work part time and having reduced access to hardship funds due to increased demand.
As a result of this lots of students simply cannot afford the data and broadband which is now required in order to keep up with their studies.
These factors further exacerbate the pre-existing attainment gap between disadvantaged and their advantaged counterparts in Higher and Further Education.
According to research by the Office for Students, across the UK in the first term 18% of students had their ability to study affected by a lack of access to the internet, a figure which is higher for students with disabilities, students who are the first in their family to attend university, student parents and students of colour.
It is therefore critical that free data and unlimited broadband is made available to students so that students don't suffer from 'digital poverty'.
It is time to provide Free Data and Unlimited Broadband to Students.
