Communications of the ACM
Education Body Calls on Support of It Pros to Close Ict Skills Gap
Credit: Smore
All major United Kingdom employees should be involved in the effort to close the information technology (IT) skills gap, according to a report from the Corporate IT Forum Education and Skills Commission (CIFESC). The IT skills body says young children need to be made more aware of IT career opportunities before they enter higher education.
CIFESC is examining how improving early education can reduce the IT skills shortage, and will produce three additional reports. The commission's first report claims there are not enough information and communications technology teachers working in schools and few opportunities exist for them to continue their professional development.
The report calls on IT professionals to help shape the way IT is taught and career guidance is offered to students. CIFESC recommends providing Year 9 students with advice on IT careers before they choose subjects to study at GCSE, and giving students access to career professionals with a science, technology, engineering, and math qualification, with funding provided by the government. "It is critical that access to good careers advice is not restricted to only the most disadvantaged and those with parents able and willing to pay for advice," the report says.
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