Midlothian's Digital Learning Project Halted

0:00A multi-million-pound project in Millothian to let senior pupils join remote lessons online got paused for another year. The digital campus was meant to help kids skip long trips to other schools for classes, but teaching union bosses at EIS shut it down, saying it could replace real classroom teachers. The hold-up started last March and hit a council meeting this month. Officials explain national teacher contracts don't spell out digital learning, so unions block it. The council even tried hiring six new teachers from outside, but those same rules stopped that too. Council leaders are frustrated, pointing out smaller schools can't offer all courses like bigger ones, especially with mass teacher shortages. They argue prepping kids for a digital world is key, just like outdoor learning that's already accepted despite not being in contracts. On the flip side, EIS insists, face-to-face teaching in classrooms by registered pros is best. They see online as no real swap. Even after using unlimited during COVID, worried it'll cheapen teachers' roles.

1:02This delay keeps pupils waiting on better options, as the council ways next moves amid the standoff. That's your update from Edinburgh News Today, powered by AI.