Teenagers lament shoddy IT education

Logicalis-commissioned survey of more than 1,000 13-to-17-year olds reveals 23 per cent plan a career in IT

IT education in secondary schools is not good enough, according to a survey of 13-to-17-year olds commissioned by Logicalis.

The firm questioned 1,000 teenagers, dubbed the "Real-time Generation" through clubdtv – a web-based TV station for teenagers – which revealed many of them are concerned that the standard of IT education will affect their employment prospects.

In total, 60 per cent of those questioned felt the government should provide them with better technology education. Just 20 per cent thought it was good enough.

Forty-four per cent feared that shoddy technology education will prevent them getting a good job in the future, with almost eight out of 10 believing good technology skills will make a positive difference to their future employment prospects.

In more positive news for the industry, one in five expressed an interest in working in the IT industry, and more than 50 per cent felt technology will play a key role in whatever job they choose.

According to the results, 23 per cent are planning to go into IT careers.

Tom Kelly, managing director of Logicalis UK, said: “The Real-timers are the most tech-savvy demographic in the UK, so it is telling that they believe the current state of IT education is poor. However, we are starting to see synergy between the students' need to improve the IT curriculum, and the government’s actions.

“With one in 10 teenagers already getting to grips with programming, and the positive attitude they have shown toward technology careers and in the workplace, the latest government initiatives around computer science in schools could prove a great success with this generation.”

Getting Social

Other findings of the research included:

• More than 70 per cent of respondents who expressed an opinion said they used Facebook and Twitter to communicate with parents and grandparents.

• However, 65 per cent said they still felt better connected to their friends than to their family through social networks.

• 40 per cent felt their grandparents were being cut off from the new digital world.

• Almost eight in 10 teenagers (77per cent) said they have helped a parent or grandparent to access a website.