Students want more IT training

More than eight out of ten students at secondary school level and above are confident with their IT skills, but as ever, more can be done to boost their knowledge, according to a new study.

More than eight out of ten students at secondary school level and above are confident with their IT skills, according to the survey of a thousand school leavers by FileMaker.

Not surprising, as three-quarters of those interviewed had learned word processing before their GCSEs, while 40 per cent were taught to use presentation software, showing basic IT functions are being successfully communicated in the early stages of education.

Meanwhile, more specialist programmes are being taught in later education, as would be expected, with students learning statistical, database and management software at degree level.

But the students surveyed said they would have liked the opportunity to learn such specialised applications earlier, with 62 per cent wishing they had knowledge of database or design programs before they hit university.

"The good news is that widespread use and introduction of technology at an early stage in education has created a generation of fluent IT users," said Tony Speakman, regional manager of Northern Europe for FileMaker.

"However, the research shows that schools are missing a key opportunity to provide further training in more advanced skills to a ready and willing generation of students who want to learn more specialised functions as they progress into the workplace," he added.

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