I have worked in IT for almost 30 years, having studied “Computer Studies” and “Control Technology” at school during the 1980’s where we were actively encouraged to explore how technology worked, how you programmed it, and how you could design and improve it.
I was shocked at the beginning of 2011 when I took on a Work Experience person for a week from the local high school. He was a very able person, and quickly picked up everything I showed him, but even though he was studying ICT at school, this amounted to teaching him basic office skills such as Microsoft Word & Excel, which I would have thought was a pre requisite for all students preparing for the world of work.
Until recently I have brought in expertise to help on specific projects I am working on, but I have always been unable to find these skills locally, and have had to go further afield. At the end of last year I decided to grow my business. I needed a young person to join my team as a full time employee. Again I was unable to find anybody with basic web design skills. In the end I have employed a young, enthusiastic person, who I can train, but this will obviously take time, and cost me.
As a parent with 2 children, one of whom starts high school this autumn, I now worry what level of ICT education they will receive in relation to English students, and those from other countries. We are living in an increasingly competitive and global market, and my fear is that Welsh school children will be unable to compete with their peers elsewhere.
Yours Sincerely
Paul Long