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News archive 2.7 million 'e-bandoned' children get the chance to get parents online A generation of school children are growing up 'e-bandoned' by parents who don't have the skills or confidence to help with schoolwork on the web. Now they're getting a chance to help the offline adults in their life 'e-climatise'. New research from UK online centres shows while nearly three quarters of parents are aware their children use the internet to help with schoolwork, a quarter of them don't feel confident enough to help or supervise their children online. One in 10 parents worry their children might actually be missing out because their own computer skills and internet know-how aren't up to scratch. Those families are being targeted by the first nation-wide Get online day, which is supported by Campaign for Learning, Intel and PC World and takes place on 12 October 2007 as part of Family Learning Week. It's an opportunity to go along to UK online centres across England and get a taste of some of the sites and services that could help them help with homework, keep up with the kids, and save them time, hassle and money.
New Skills Minister David Lammy is one of the campaign's supporters. He explains: "Because ICT is now firmly embedded in the school curriculum and indeed in everyday life, it's an increasingly important skill for parents too. Education research clearly shows that parental involvement is one of the major factors affecting children's educational performance.* With school league tables, exam results and even the process for booking school places and meals all going online, mums, dads and guardians have more reason to be brushing up on their internet and ICT skills than ever. "It's not just in getting involved in their children's education that the internet can come in handy. Those without the skills to use it are potentially missing out on all sorts of family benefits, opportunities and conveniences - from booking bargain holidays to getting the shopping in, to finding information on anything from family health to family tax credits. Get online day is a chance for families to get together, get into a UK online centre, and get a taste of what they could do on the internet, and what the internet could do for them". One mum who knows what it feels like not to be able to help her son online is Sharon Cheston, 38, from Durham. She's been a regular at her local UK online centre for some time now, and started going along with her son. She says: "My son gets quite a bit of homework for English, history and geography that involves the internet. For example, he's recently been asked to find out things about the cultures of different countries. It feels great that I now have the skills to be able to help him online and share his interest in technology - I wouldn't have even known where to start before. Now we really enjoy spenidng time on the computer. I like to know what he's doing, and he helps me improve my skills! "I think all parents should be able to use the internet. It's what's "in" at the moment and it's so important to know what your kids are doing so you can help them. I would say to people don't be frightened of computers and the internet - visit a UK online centre and try them out!" Helen Milner is Managing Director for UK online centres. She concludes: "As teachers and school children increasingly use computers and the internet in the classroom, digitally excluded parents are being left behind and left out of their children's education. Get online day aims to encourage the 40% of people still not using computers and the internet to dip their toes into online waters, and see how it could help them help their children". Ends For further information please contact Abi Stevens on 0778 666 0689 or email
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