9 January 2006

The compatibility of computers used in schools and at home is to be reviewed, a government education agency has announced.

The review will attempt to address the problems facing pupils who use different programmes at home than the ones they use at school.

It will also investigate the licensing implications of allowing a parent or child to log on to a school system and access its various resources and applications.

The evaluation is to be conducted by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency and will be carried out in consultation with a number of different bodies including local education bodies, head teachers and the Regional Broadband Consortia.

The initiative is also part of a strategy by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), which has the overall aim to increase parent participation in aiding their child's educational development.

"We will make it easier for parents and carers to engage with and support their children's learning by opening up school-based Internet systems, bridging the gap between school and home, making available secure access to pupil information, learning activities and email-based communication, " pledges a statement from the DfES.

It is expected that an interim report on the review's progress will be released by August this year.

© Adfero Ltd

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