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BBC suspends net learning project BBC suspends net learning project
(10 minutes later)
The BBC Trust has announced it is suspending its online education service, BBC Jam, pending a review.The BBC Trust has announced it is suspending its online education service, BBC Jam, pending a review.
It follows complaints from commercial online companies to the European Commission about the £150m project.It follows complaints from commercial online companies to the European Commission about the £150m project.
They complain the service - for children aged from five to 16 - is damaging their businesses.They complain the service - for children aged from five to 16 - is damaging their businesses.
Acting BBC Trust Chairman Chitra Bharucha said the trust regretted the need to suspend the service.Acting BBC Trust Chairman Chitra Bharucha said the trust regretted the need to suspend the service.
She apologised to users of BBC Jam and to the corporation's staff and suppliers affected by the decision.She apologised to users of BBC Jam and to the corporation's staff and suppliers affected by the decision.
BBC Jam is an online learning resource for children, designed to be used at home to support key areas of the school curriculum across the UK.BBC Jam is an online learning resource for children, designed to be used at home to support key areas of the school curriculum across the UK.
BBC Jam has continued to attract complaints from the commercial sector about the parameters of its activities Chitra Bharucha, Acting BBC Trust ChairmanBBC Jam has continued to attract complaints from the commercial sector about the parameters of its activities Chitra Bharucha, Acting BBC Trust Chairman
The service went live in January 2006, with the BBC pledging to invest £150m over five years. Half of the budget has already been spent.The service went live in January 2006, with the BBC pledging to invest £150m over five years. Half of the budget has already been spent.
The corporation planned to keep adding new material with the aim of completing the site by September next year.The corporation planned to keep adding new material with the aim of completing the site by September next year.
The service was approved by the government in January 2003. It was freely available to anyone in the UK with an internet connection.The service was approved by the government in January 2003. It was freely available to anyone in the UK with an internet connection.
It will be suspended from 20 March 2007.It will be suspended from 20 March 2007.
It has 170,000 registered users but you can use the site without registering so there is no accurate picture of how many people are using the resource.It has 170,000 registered users but you can use the site without registering so there is no accurate picture of how many people are using the resource.
'Damaging''Damaging'
Acting BBC Trust Chairman Chitra Bharucha said in a statement: "The Trust has requested BBC management to prepare fresh proposals for how the BBC should deliver the Charter obligation to promote formal education and learning, meeting the online needs to school age children.Acting BBC Trust Chairman Chitra Bharucha said in a statement: "The Trust has requested BBC management to prepare fresh proposals for how the BBC should deliver the Charter obligation to promote formal education and learning, meeting the online needs to school age children.
"Despite a rigorous approval process involving the BBC Governors, the Department for Culture Media and Sport, and the European Commission resulting in extensive conditions on the service, BBC Jam has continued to attract complaints from the commercial sector about the parameters of its activities.""Despite a rigorous approval process involving the BBC Governors, the Department for Culture Media and Sport, and the European Commission resulting in extensive conditions on the service, BBC Jam has continued to attract complaints from the commercial sector about the parameters of its activities."
The BBC's Media Correspondent Torin Douglas said the BBC Trust had no choice but to suspend the service following the intervention of the European Commission.The BBC's Media Correspondent Torin Douglas said the BBC Trust had no choice but to suspend the service following the intervention of the European Commission.
"Commercial people in the education sector are claiming the BBC is damaging their business; it is seen as a state subsidy," he said."Commercial people in the education sector are claiming the BBC is damaging their business; it is seen as a state subsidy," he said.
"The BBC doesn't yet know what the exact complaints are but had no option but to suspend the service.""The BBC doesn't yet know what the exact complaints are but had no option but to suspend the service."
BBC charter
Under the BBC's charter, the corporation is charged with promoting learning for school-aged children. BBC Jam was aimed at meeting that requirement.
One of the conditions BBC Jam was set up with was that half of its content budget had to be spent on commissioning material from outside the BBC.
Before the service was launched, there was concerted opposition from commercial companies.
A judicial review was sought by educational software companies who argued that the use of state money to fund the BBC's plans would be illegal under European law.
In early 2003 an out of court settlement was reached and in 2005, the online content was piloted in hundreds of UK schools.
About 190 staff at the BBC work on the project and there are contracts with independent production companies. It is not yet clear what will happen to those involved.About 190 staff at the BBC work on the project and there are contracts with independent production companies. It is not yet clear what will happen to those involved.