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Government looks to make ICT education 'essential' to curriculum

19/12/2011 Government looks to make ICT education 'essential' to...The government has said that computer science education should be brought into the new National Curriculum as an essential discipline.

Formulating a response to Nesta's Next Gen report on reforming the provision of ICT and computer science subjects in schools, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said that it recognises the importance of ICT.

It also agreed with Nesta that the UK's ICT programme should be reformed to encourage more young people to study the subject and pursue IT careers.

Details about ICT education reform will be published in the review of the National Curriculum, which was launched last January. It aims to set out the core knowledge that children should acquire, including core subjects such as English, maths and science. Computer science is even being considered for the English Baccalaureate qualification.

The report also set out plans to encourage the best computer science teachers by offering training bursaries and 'golden hellos'.

Promoting video games in schools will encourage students to pursue technology jobs

One way to encourage young people to consider IT jobs in the future is to use video games in schools, the report recommends.

Richard Wilson, chief executive of UK games industry trade body TIGA, welcomed the government's support of video games in ICT education.

"TIGA has been campaigning for a long time for measures … to further enhance the quality of education, so the industry has skilled people," he said, adding that current ICT provision does not prepare pupils for the world of work.

"We still need to increase the proportion of people who are qualified at GCSE and A Level in Stem (science, technology, electronics and maths) subjects generally," Mr Wilson remarked.

Making IT jobs appealing to girls

Encouraging girls to study STEM subjects is also a challenge that the government is working to address.

The report makes a special mention of the Computer Clubs for Girls, which has so far managed to engage 135,000 girls in almost 4,000 schools to get involved in IT in ways that most related to them and enhance their IT skills.

DCMS recommends that the scheme could be developed further with the video games industry to entice girls to careers in this sector through activities and offline learning challenges.

Launching a Next Gen Skills campaign to improve IT sector in the future

Supporting reform to the UK ICT curriculum is trade body UKIE, which has attracted support from companies including Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo and Google, as well as creative development studios and organisations such as e-skills and Skillset.

Launching the Next Gen Skills campaign, the UKIE is calling for the creation of an industry-relevant computer science course to be included in the National Curriculum and the delivery of ICT skills across the wider curriculum.

It also seeks to promote the vital role that teaching computer science and other Stem subjects will play in growing the UK's digital, creative and tech industries.


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