Do we need a wi-fi revolution in schools?

If we do, never has a revolution been so slow. According to figures from Scotland's councils, fewer than one in 10 schools meets the standard for internet connectivity set out in a report commissioned by the Scottish Government last year. It seems the advance of the internet has stalled in the place where it could do most good: the classroom.

There are a number of reasons for this. First, most schools have become used to clamping down on access to the internet, and in particular hand-held devices, because they are worried about a threat to discipline. School authorities are also concerned about pupils accessing inappropriate material online.

The other factor that has held back progress is a reluctance by schools, with their limited budgets, to invest in hardware for pupils only for it to be rendered obsolete by the next generation of technology. The recent troubles of BlackBerry show just how real that worry is.

However - understandable as all these concerns are - the pressure is growing for change, particularly among parents. Every parent knows the internet is now pretty much the centre of children's lives - it is where they socialise, learn and have fun - and it is increasingly bizarre that lessons are often internet-free. There is also growing evidence that young people who learn with computers learn faster and perform better in the long term.

There has admittedly been some progress - most pupils will access the internet most days in the course of their lessons - but it has not been quick enough. As the National Parent Forum of Scotland points out, there is also a danger that some schools will make progress and others will not. This is a particular concern for rural schools, where connectivity is more erratic. They could be left behind.

It is the responsibility of Education Scotland and local authorities to ensure that such a two-tier system does not develop and that internet connectivity is as consistent as possible across all schools. The report the Scottish Government commissioned from the ICT in Education Excellence group said all schools should have access to the internet at speeds of 100 megabits per second or higher. The aim of Education Scotland and councils should be to meet this standard as swiftly as possible.

In doing so, there will be a number of problems to wrestle with, mainly getting the right infrastructure in place but also the question of whether schools should invest in hardware. The obvious solution would appear to be to allow pupils to use their own devices - most pupils now have them. But some do not and there could be a risk of singling out such pupils. It may be that schools will have to invest in some devices to get round this problem.

Whatever the answers, it is imperative that Education Scotland and local authorities find solutions quickly, partly because teaching resources are increasingly moving online but mainly because the internet can be a great learning tool and every pupil deserves access to it. The wi-fi revolution is happening, but it needs to be speeded up.