Computer equipment at more than half of Southend's schools is expected to fall prey to the millennium bug, a survey has revealed.

Various checks need to be undertaken on all computer chip-controlled equipment to ensure it will recognise the 2000 date change when it occurs on December 31.

An assessment of equipment at the borough's 60 schools showed that at 34 there was 'severe risk of material disruption', and it was now unlikely the problem could be resolved before the end of the year, councillors on the education committee will be told today.

At a further 19 schools there is some risk of disruption, but a plan to correct the situation at those schools has been agreed.

The likelihood of problems at seven schools is not known, but no schools have been given the all clear and declared "bug-free" zones.

If the problems aren't rectified, schools affected could lose valuable data stored on their computers.

Southend Council sent questionnaires to all heads and then used the nationally accepted yardstick to measure the possibility of year 2000 problems.

Assistant education director Alastair Robertson said: "It is evident that the majority of schools understand the implications in relation to computer compliance, but have failed to grasp the wider issues in relation to embedded chips and the need for formal contingency planning."

Southend could be given a black mark by the Government for not offering more help to schools to become year 2000 compliant. The authority did not keep any funds back to directly deal with the 2000 issue in schools but delegated total responsibility to the schools themselves.

It is now believed the LEA could have retained some cash to help schools meet the deadline.

Mr Robertson said: "From the information we have received from the schools at the present time, we will not present the LEA in a favourable light."

The council is now writing to schools giving them details of their state of readiness and asking them to supply details of their contingency plans.

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