Would-be IT professionals develop their own computer
literacy, and the education system needs to support their
intellectual develoment, according to shadow secretary of state for
the Department of Universities, Innovation and Skills,David Willetts.
Speaking at a Conservative Party conference fringe meeting on
Tuesday, he said many
"
IT skills are incredibly important for the 21st century, but
most kids now do develop high level computer literacy through their
own personal experience. We can help by doing more on maths, and
developing their intellectual framework so they are not cut out as
software developers. We cannot pin anything on one system.
He said that subjects such as maths would help underpin IT
workers' ability to cope with fast-paced change.
"IT skills are important for the economy, but the evidence is
that it is maths that is really valuable, and where education can
help in particular. It provides an intellectual framework on which
these specific skills are then based. So as computer language
changes and developes they are then equipped to cope with them," he
said.