Pupils’ technological education grinds to a halt due to low-speed broadband

Technology should open up the world to curious young minds — but crawling broadband speeds mean a Waterford primary class can not make best use of their fancy gadgets.

Like hundreds of primary schools, the staff and pupils of Scoil an Bhaile Nua in Newtown, Co Waterford, have very slow internet access.

For principal Mary Foskin, there is huge frustration most weeks when her fifth- and sixth-class pupils bring in their own tablet computers, laptops, and smartphones to try and make learning more fun.