IT education plan launches with £5.6m funding

IT skills programme aims to improve knowledge of teachers and students

A £5.6m government-funded programme to enhance teachers’ IT skills and improve learning has been launched today.

The England-wide initiative, led by The Open University and e-Skills UK and financed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), intends to help education professionals to make effective use of technology in the classroom.

To meet the needs of their increasingly tech-savvy students, the programme will focus on providing teachers in all areas with training covering areas such as experience of the ways in which IT is used in business environments.

The plan will see The Open University contributing with its virtual education set-up, while e-Skills UK will use its employer reach and background in IT skills programmes.

“We live in a technology-enabled world. To prepare young people for successful futures we need to transform the way in which technology is taught and used in education,” said e-Skills UK chief executive Karen Price.

“This places new demands on the skills and knowledge required of teachers. The UK already has many excellent technology teachers as well as teachers who are inspirational in their use of IT in lessons,” she said.

“We believe this programme will raise the overall standard to that of the very best, enhancing and enriching education for young people and their teachers.”