IT skills are as important as reading and writing, says expert

Having IT skills ranks alongside learning reading, writing and mathematics, says technology organisation e-skills.

Responding to the government's publication of Sir Stephen Carter's Digital Britain report, Karen Price, chief executive officer of e-skills UK, said the document "highlighted the importance of skills in an increasingly technology-enabled world".

Ms Price noted that "everyone needs IT skills". She also says that according to research conducted by her organisation "more than 90 per cent of new jobs now require some level of IT skills".

An earlier report by Baroness Estelle Morris claimed additional support was required for the 11.6 million people in the UK who need basic computer skills training.

Special needs tutors and teaching assistants have a range of technologies they can draw on to help integrate IT into their teaching.

A useful example is the digital whiteboard - teachers can use this to project information and write over presentations and internet pages.

Published On 19/06/2009