[BBC] UK facing 'digital skills crisis' warn MPs

[elsiegee40]

UK facing 'digital skills crisis' warn MPs - BBC News

 

Urgent action is needed to deal with the UK's digital skills crisis, warn MPs, or it risks damaging the country's productivity and competitiveness.

 

It is thought 12.6 million adults lack basic digital skills, while 5.8 million have never used the internet at all.

 

"Stubborn digital exclusion and systemic problems" with education and training need to be urgently addressed, the report said.

It urged the government's digital strategy to be published without delay.

 

The report found that:

■ 22% of IT equipment in schools is ineffective

■ Just 35% of computer science teachers had a relevant qualification

■ Only 70% of the required number of computer science teachers have been recruited

■ The UK needs another 745,000 workers with digital skills by 2017

■ 90% of jobs require digital skills to some degree

■ Skills gap costs economy around £63bn a year in lost income

 

"Digital exclusion has no place in 21st Century Britain," the Commons Science and Technology Committee said.

 

"While the government is to be commended for the actions taken so far... stubborn digital exclusion and systemic problems with digital education and training need to be addressed as a matter of urgency in the government's forthcoming digital strategy," it continued.

 

The report calls for businesses to invest more and better training at all levels of education.

"The UK leads Europe on tech, but we need to take concerted action to avoid falling behind. We need to make sure tomorrow's workforce is leaving school or university with the digital skills that employers need," said the committee's chairwoman, Nicole Blackwood.

 

In response a government spokesperson said: "This government recognises the crucial role digital skills play in our society and economy. Our Digital Strategy, to be published shortly, will set out how we will help employers and individuals access the tools they need to power our digital economy.

 

"This will make sure we are well placed to remain a tech leader in Europe. We will consider the Select Committee's report and respond in due course," they added.

[Gibbo]

So claims a report on the country's digital skills, and that:

 

Just 35% of computer science teachers had a relevant qualification

 

UK facing 'digital skills crisis' warn MPs - BBC News

[Fazza]

Are they sure it's the equipment that's in effective and not something else?!

[elsiegee40]

Are they sure it's the equipment that's in effective and not something else?!

 

The reports lack of digital skills being the problem. Ineffective equipment is only part of it

[Lonix]

The report found that:

■ 22% of IT equipment in schools is ineffective

Really not surprised by this in fact, I would have thought it would be a lot higher. I've seen a lot of waste in Schools and it has too many factors on why it's "ineffective". Too often will some one who is ambitious want the latest "fab" instead of productivity level. Too often you get "it works for me" and thinks it will work for the young generation. Not forgetting the fact that teachers have to be brought up to speed on that tech. When there is a limited amount of time for teachers when are they expected to learn all this new tech on top of everything else for professional development? You also need IT staff who know how to setup the tech and support it which is another ball game.

■ Just 35% of computer science teachers had a relevant qualification

Considering I know very few teachers who actually know IT or "computer science" as it's called. Certainly not shocked by this one. How many of us who are widely experienced enough in IT going to switch to teaching to help fill this gap? I don't know a single one except my self that's tempted.

■ Only 70% of the required number of computer science teachers have been recruited

Well I am being told there is a shortage on teachers and generally I think there is a shortage on people who choose computer science as a subject. I know more people heading down the science biology route or law compared to computing. Those I know who choose computer science don't for one second consider teaching.

■ The UK needs another 745,000 workers with digital skills by 2017

Well there are plenty about but we are under paid and under valued. And many of us are not exactly 100% positive towards young people choosing our own profession, I doubt that helps. Not forgetting how many I know that go off to "business" so why would people choose computer science then head to teaching.

 

■ 90% of jobs require digital skills to some degree

I've been saying this all along and tend to get shot down like anything. People still don't realise that IT is in nearly anything and everything these days. It's why I rarely ever feel that I would be out of work.

 

■ Skills gap costs economy around £63bn a year in lost income

Maybe the Gov should do something about it but it wont happen. Perhaps Schools could consider looking at their current IT Staff to fill the gap and perhaps help attract decent IT staff with better pay.

 

Too many issues to be solved over night and certainly not going to be fixed in the short term either.

[misslp]

Unfortunately it's a problem that we can relate to at my school.

 

Our problem seems to be the following:

 

• Recruiting the IT specialists who can teach, if this fails, employ supply teachers who have no qualifications
  
• Time/effort hasn't gone into developing the department. We've lost the whole Computing department (apart from 1) since I started here nearly three years ago. They've gone from the best performing department in the school, to the worst.
  
• Paying peanuts for a Computing/IT teacher
  

 

 

Skills need to be taught earlier. A lot of students think playing games and sitting watching YouTube is their education.