Concerns over pace of school computer rollout

Highland councillors have raised concerns about the pace of a rollout of computers to school pupils.

All children in P6 and 7 and all secondary school pupils are to get a device to help with their studies in the flagship Highland Council project.

Some councillors have concerns the infrastructure needed to support the project in schools is not ready.

But education committee chairman Drew Millar said the two-year phased rollout should start as planned in August.

Councillor Graham Mackenzie, who is a former teacher, said earlier "expectations and promises" made by the local authority on the project were not being achieved.

He told BBC Alba: "I need a plan that tells me the schools are ready for this, that the network is ready and we have a timescale."

Mr Millar said suggests that every school would be issued with the computers in August this year "was not the case".

He said it had always been planned as a phased rollout which was schedule to begin this summer as planned, despite "difficulties" with the network set up.

Council officers involved in the project have been asked to give an update on preparedness for the rollout at a meeting of the education committee in March.