TIGA, the trade association
representing the UK games industry, has called on universities to help local
teachers to create relevant ICT courses in schools.
The UK Coalition Government
is cancelling the current ICT lesson programme from September and allowing
teachers to decide how best to teach the subject until a new curriculum is
formulated. The regulations propose that schools will still teach ICT at all
key stages of the National Curriculum. However, teachers and schools will have
permission to create a new ICT curriculum to suit pupil needs.
TIGA believes that this is a
great opportunity for universities with computing and gaming courses to offer
help and advice to teachers, assisting them in equipping pupils with the best
skills for the future.
TIGA would like to see a
curriculum that allows flexibility to focus on exploring technology and ideas.
TIGA would like to see programming and computer science being taught in schools
and for universities and videogame developers to have a say in the direction of
the courses replacing ICT. It also wants to see less emphasis being placed on
teaching children how to use apps and more on how to create them. The Coalition
Government has launched a public consultation on the new scheme's draft regulations
and this will run until July 11th 2012.
Professor Carsten Maples, Pro-Vice Chancellor at the
University of Bedfordshire, and one of TIGA’s Education Advisers, said:
“It is important in
this knowledge driven society that the UK re-establishes itself as a leader in
creativity and invention. Proposals to put computer science back high on the
education agenda are a welcome step in the right direction and are vital to
support the games industry, which is so important to the UK economy.”
Mark
Eyles, Principle Lecturer, University of Portsmouth and a TIGA Education
Adviser, said:
“Much
of the teaching of computing in schools has been ineffective for some
years and this opportunity to make improvements is important for increasing
the computing skills that our new students bring with them to university.
The creation of better computing teaching at school will have a knock on
effect right through the education system, enabling universities to produce
graduates better prepared for working in game development and other
industries. Improving the teaching of computing in schools is both urgent
and important if the UK is going to compete globally.”
Notes to editors:
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The
majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house
publisher owned developers. We also have games publishers, outsourcing
companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. TIGA
was awarded ‘Trade Association of the Year’ and the ‘Member Recruitment Award’
at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2010. TIGA has also been
named as a finalist in the 2010 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) National
Management and Leadership Awards in the category of ‘The Outstanding
Organisation of the Year Award (SME)’.
TIGA is an ‘Investors in People’
accredited organisation.
TIGA's vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to
do games business. We focus on three sets of activities: political
representation, generating media coverage and developing services that enhance
the competitiveness of our members. This means that TIGA members are
effectively represented in the corridors of power, their voice is heard in the
media and they receive benefits that make a material difference to their
businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial
opportunities.
For further information, please contact Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on:
07875 939 643, or email richard.wilson@tiga.org.