Earlier this month Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education, said I.T. lessons in the UK are “dull and harmful.” For years, I.T. students have had to endure hours of lessons teaching them things like Word and Excel, which they often already know. By the end of school, many are disheartened and disillusioned by a subject that could have been an exciting introduction to the industry.
This is a shame. I.T. is a growing industry and offers plenty of exciting and well paid career opportunities. Cyber security, for example, requires a large influx of new recruits to defend the UK against cyber attacks. Future experts in cloud computing will change the way businesses work. I.T. is no longer just about understanding bits of technology and software; it’s also about knowing how technology can be used to change the world.
Students should be lining up in droves to fill these positions, but many never even consider I.T. as an option. I believe this is because education hasn’t inspired them to do so, not because it doesn’t interest them.
Of course, plenty of excellent teachers will have made the most of I.T. lessons to go beyond the curriculum and inspire their students. But I hope anyone who endured the duller variety of I.T. lessons will join me in welcoming the news that the government plans a shakeup of the I.T. curriculum from September. For future students, this will mean that they will be exposed to lessons that will cover topics such as how to write software or develop web pages; skills that are far more challenging and relevant to the current generation of technology users.
All very well for the next generation you may think, but have those leaving school or graduating now been sold short? Is that seemingly rational decision to ditch your least interesting subject going to hold you back from one of the few industries that is recruiting young people?
Well, not really. Most people are in the same boat, in that they have good, non-I.T. qualifications and now want a good, stable job. If that’s you, then I.T. is worth a look, even if ten minutes ago you couldn’t think of anything less suited to you. You might be surprised at what I.T. can offer, and how much you could offer I.T.
I.T. employers look for a broad range of skills, which can be developed in many different subject areas. Well-rounded people are exactly what the industry needs. The kind of skills learned in arts, science and business subjects are all relevant to the various areas of the I.T. industry.
A short technical course can help you get your foot in the door. Since I.T. lessons have failed to give school leavers or graduates the right skills for employment, a thriving I.T. training industry has sprung up to do just that.
Such institutions cater for anyone, from 16 year-olds to university graduates and mid-life career changers. They teach courses which lead to industry-designed, entry-level certifications, such as CompTIA A+ and Microsoft MCITP. Some employers are so keen to get the right people that they will invest in your technical training if you can show them you have the right ‘soft skills’.
We hope that the future I.T. curriculum will change the experience of I.T. education for the next generation. For those who are just coming out of the existing I.T. education system, it’s important not to be discouraged by the experience. In the real world, a career in I.T. is far more dynamic and rewarding than the existing school curriculum suggests. If you’re able to look beyond your lessons at the fantastic range of opportunities available, you may just find a rewarding career on the other side.
Vice President, Europe and Middle East, CompTIA
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