IT Distance Learning News

Women outperforming men at secondary school IT

Women studying computing at secondary education level consistently outperform their male counterparts, new research shows, suggesting they could achieve a similar success in an IT training course.

Figures published by the British Computer Society (BCS) find that while they are outnumbered by boys, girls often achieving at a higher level, emphasising the importance of encouraging more to enter the industry.

Stephen Carter, minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, claims that the UK needs a strong and diverse IT sector if it is to succeed at supporting the 22 million employees who use computing on a daily basis.

He states: "There's more to be done to strengthen the ways business, education and government work together to nurture the IT leaders that business needs."

David Clarke, chief executive of the BCS, reveals that half of the winners in the excellence categories during the organisation's recent IT Industry Awards were female.

Yesterday (March 25th) was Ada Lovelace Day, which commemorates the world's first computer programmer by celebrating the contribution of women to the technology sector.