In case you're a bit behind with the news, here is a summary of the situation in England:
- Employers and others think that school-leavers don't have good enough digital skills.
- The ICT qualification helps them to acquire, and become accredited for, such skills.
- Thousands of youngsters, especially girls, take the ICT qualification every year.
- In recognition of the importance of all this, the Department for Education has decided to scrap the ICT qualification.
Oh alright, that was a bit cynical, I admit. The government's stance seems to be that Computing is the way of the future, and also that you can't have two qualifications with similar content.
My own view is that the government has made an error of judgement. The content of the two qualifications overlap to an extent, but fulfill different purposes. And anyway, why scrap something that so many youngsters benefit from?
For a fuller background and more detail, see my interview with the extraordinary Kay Sawbridge.
Kay has set up a survey to find out how teachers have been affected by this decision, and how they are dealing with it. The survey will be open until Sunday evening, ie 13th March 2016. Please take a few minutes to fill it in, as it could be vital in the efforts to reverse the decision. (Hope springs eternal etc)
