Experts Say UK Must Emphasize Programming in Schools Reports OnlineTrainingDirect.com

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/04/2012 -- Children in schools across the UK have been learning the basics of computing for years. Word, Excel, and Powerpoint have all been a part of ICT training. However in the eyes of most in the UK, computer programing and web-design are seen as hobbies or extra-curricular activities for children.

These are not offered as subjects in school but more as a pastime that children can choose to learn during free time when not engaged in academics. This has many wondering if children are not being fully prepared for the future.

For today’s society, programming is not a niche made for a select few. The application has more than just keystrokes for children to learn. It teaches them to be a part of a team, to try something new and to use the basics of problem solving and logic. Not everyone may choose to go into HTML, CSS, or JavaScript jobs; however, in an age where society must arm children with the tools to be successful, programming is a skill that can take them far as adults already solidified in the field.

The UK’s digital industry is rapidly growing. The demand for developers is high; yet, the number of people trained in the skill is low considering the need. Companies in the UK are having a hard time finding developers for their companies IT needs, while freelancers are charging high fees for their services which are desperately needed throughout the UK. This is creating a gap in the IT industry in the country.

A study last year showed that “only one third of secondary schools achieved good or outstanding ICT report from Ofsted,” according to David Cameron, London’s answer to Silicon Valley. Some kids did not know what “programming” was. He feels that there is nothing being done to help the future of programing and ICT in the UK.

Compared to other countries, the UK is outdated when it comes to ICT. Countries like Estonia are taking computer training seriously, revamping their programs and creating training for teachers so that they can begin teaching basic web and mobile applications to primary school students, some as young as six. Some schools are creating clubs to help get kids interested in programing and ICT as a way to prepare them for the future. Preparation in these fields can prepare a child for the future in the rapidly changing IT landscape of the future.

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