Teachers to get IT training to help youngsters

16:45 1st May 2009

IT training could be provided to primary school teachers as part of new plans aimed at boosting the technology skills of pupils.

Former schools inspector Sir Jim Rose is currently leading a review of the way primary pupils are taught and is planning a major overhaul of the curriculum, including developing a greater focus on teaching IT to youngsters.

His final report is expected to place IT learning in the same category of importance as numeracy and literacy for primary school children and it is believed ministers will back Sir Jim's recommendations.

It is thought the recommendations will call for IT to be used in all subjects and advocate more IT training for teachers to ensure they are able to stay ahead of pupils as more and more youngsters gain access to computers and the internet at home.

Without bringing IT into the central arena of education, Sir Jim warns there could emerge a technological "underclass" of young people who have been left behind because their parents could not afford to have computers at home, while their peers have grown up with the technology.

Meanwhile the Association for Learning Technology and the eLearning Network have announced a series of free online training sessions designed to help people understand how to use technology to their advantage.