Education gets IT boost

The Government is hoping to boost flagging figures of young people entering the IT sector by announcing a new package of ICT measures for schools and colleges.

Charles Clarke, the Education and Skills Secretary, said a new package of

ICT measures for schools and colleges would be introduced "to help develop teaching skills across all education sectors, extend access to online digital resources, and continue investment for an effective ICT infrastructure."

The measures will include:

• an extra £280m for e-learning credits;
• an extra £92m to develop College Online;
• £8 million for Online training for teachers next year;
• an extra £195 million to provide more laptops for teachers over the
  next three years; and
• an extra £287m to provide all schools with broadband capability by 2006,
  this is on top of the £71m already announced for next year.

Mr Clarke said: "We have spent over £1 billion creating an ICT infrastructure in schools, colleges and libraries, stimulating the content market and training teachers and we are making £300 million available between 2003-6 as e-learning credits to ensure access to paid for and free materials."

The Secretary also announced the opening of 'Curriculum Online' - a

Government portal that allows access to lesson plans and enables teachers to communicate with each other across the country.

The online curriculum service has additionally been integrated onto BBC

Online in a move the Government hopes will attract young people accessing the site for entertainment.

Over 100,000 teachers have gained access to laptops through 'Laptops for

Teachers' - a scheme set up by the Government in 2001 - with a further target to give two thirds of teachers personal access to a computer by 2006.

Prime Minister, Tony Blair, also recently announced further funding for broadband connections in all schools by 2006. A cash injection for local authorities of £920 million by 2005-6 has been forecast to meet this pledge.

Lack of Government funding has, in the past, been blamed for holding tomorrow's skilled IT workforce back by not providing necessary IT resources, equipment and the training young students need.

In September last year, research published by the IT magazine,

Computeractive, on behalf of the National Computing Day campaign, found 80 per cent of the teachers it surveyed strongly felt the Government should make investing in IT equipment a priority, whilst nearly eight out of 10 teachers felt that if more IT equipment were available, it would enable them to teach their pupils better.

Last November, the Government oversaw a drive to encourage young girls to enter IT, which will culminate in 250 teenagers attending a slumber party in the Science Museum in March.