Additional training "must be a good thing"

News that £5.6 million will be allocated for extra IT training to improve jobs in education has been welcomed by a schools-expert.

The Good Schools Guide's regional editor Sue Fieldman said that the support would increase teachers' self-confidence.

"I'm sure some of them feel threatened by some of the computer genii in their classes because some of them are very clued up with it all," she added.

Ms Fieldman said that she hoped the extra funding would be an indication of an ongoing commitment to teacher-training by the government rather than a one-off payment which would be "a bit of a drop in the ocean".

Older teachers in particular would benefit from further investment, she added.

According to Ofsted's last annual report the contribution of technology in primary school teaching was "inconsistent in its effectiveness".

Launched by the Open University and e-Skills UK comma the new programme aims to help teachers meet the needs of pupils increasingly familiar with technology.







Published On 28/07/2009