Huge rise in ICT learners a boost for NI skills base - Empey

The Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, has announced a massive increase in Northern Ireland’s ICT learners through his Department’s provision of free ICT classes.

The Minister revealed that 1,361 learners achieved 1,384 ICT Essential Skills qualifications in June 2010, which means there are now nearly 40 times more Essential Skills learners than at this time last year. Sir Reg said: “These figures are hugely encouraging. They demonstrate that my Department’s free Essential Skills provision is delivering real results for our people by addressing the needs of learners and supplying employers with access to a high-skilled, demand-led labour pool. They also indicate that our working population recognises the importance of skills development, especially in the critical STEM subjects which will be central to our future economic competitiveness.”

Stressing the importance of ICT skills to the wider UK economy, Sir Reg highlighted Prime Minister David Cameron’s endorsement of the recently-launched ‘Manifesto for a Networked Nation’, which aims to avoid the gulf between the information-rich and information-poor and help the 10 million people in the UK who have never used the internet to get online.

Sir Reg said: “I am determined to do all in my power to ensure that we, in Northern Ireland, are not left behind in the drive to make all of our working age population computer literate.

“In May 2009, I announced ICT as an Essential Skill and in today’s world, it is exactly that. Interaction with computers and technology play an increasingly significant role in all our lives, whether professionally or socially. I underlined the importance upon which I place computer literacy earlier this year when I announced that ICT Entry Level classes would join existing Essential Skills classes in Literacy and Numeracy, as being free of charge to learners of all ages.”

The Minister concluded by calling on prospective learners to join ICT Entry Level and Essential Skills classes. The Minister said: “Whilst today’s figures are a source of great optimism, we must continue to move forwards. By providing free ICT Essential Skills classes, my Department aims to help anyone who feels isolated by a lack of computer literacy and I strongly urge anyone seeking to improve these skills to take advantage of this free provision.”

If you would like to sign up for free Entry Level ICT classes or improve any of your Essential Skills for free, why not visit your local College or visit knowhowNi.info. For further information on free classes in your area, contact the Department for Employment and Learning's Careers Advisers at your local Careers Resource Centre, JobCentre or Jobs and Benefits office. Alternatively, log onto careersserviceni.com or visit the employment section on nidirect.

Notes to editors:

1. Statistics extracted from Department for Employment and Learning Statistical Factsheet – June 2010. When directly compared to the June 2009 totals, the number of ICT learners has risen from 35 to 1,384; ie. 3854%.
2. A photograph is available on the DEL website
3. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Employment and Learning Communications Branch on 028 9025 7872. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.