Mini-computers for school pupils

Hand-held computers could help pupils with their homework

All pupils over the age of 10 could be given their own handheld computers in a project involving local councils in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

An initial £100,000 pilot scheme will see a number of pupils given a personal digital assistant (PDA).

The device will provide them with free, round the clock access to the internet.

The councils hope to roll out the initiative by setting up a charitable trust, which could bid for National Lottery and European Union funding.

The idea is based on a project in Philadelphia, which provides pupils with their own laptops.

The plans were drawn up after Edinburgh City Council leader Ewan Aitken visited the US state, while he was still the council's education leader.

A similar PDA scheme in Wolverhampton has already reported improvements in pupils' maths and science results.

The mini-computers can be used to download information from the internet, to share information and to read e-books.