Flu outbreak pupils to net online classes

Published on Tuesday 3 November 2009 08:51

SCHOOL pupils are expected to turn to online learning this winter if the swine flu pandemic intensifies as predicted.

Heriot-Watt University's online programme Scholar, which helps Scottish pupils studying for Highers and Advanced Highers, is already gearing up to accept a much greater volume of hits.

Professor Phillip John, Dean of Science and Engineering at Heriot-Watt and executive chair of the Scholar forum, said: "The Scholar team is aware of the Scottish Government planning exercises concerned with school closures.

"We typically receive around 750,000 hits a month as Scholar is a well-established resource, available to all fifth and sixth-year pupils, Scotland-wide.

"Scotland is therefore well placed to support senior students at a critical stage of their studies for bad weather or any other reason that pupils may find it difficult to get to school."