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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/01/george-osborne-technology-make-britain-leader
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Technology: let's make this country the best | Technology: let's make this country the best |
| (17 days later) | |
| 'The computer is a bicycle for our minds." That's what Steve Jobs said back in 1990, at the dawn of the internet revolution that transformed economies and societies across the globe. When I was a teenager, I was lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to learn to code Basic – the equivalent of learning to ride a bike in the digital age, so to speak. At the time, tens of thousands of young people across the UK were also learning to code on BBC Microcomputers, and exploring the potential of writing software and interacting with technology. While my coding skills didn't make it beyond Basic, an entire generation of gifted British software engineers and world-beating technology companies was born. | 'The computer is a bicycle for our minds." That's what Steve Jobs said back in 1990, at the dawn of the internet revolution that transformed economies and societies across the globe. When I was a teenager, I was lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to learn to code Basic – the equivalent of learning to ride a bike in the digital age, so to speak. At the time, tens of thousands of young people across the UK were also learning to code on BBC Microcomputers, and exploring the potential of writing software and interacting with technology. While my coding skills didn't make it beyond Basic, an entire generation of gifted British software engineers and world-beating technology companies was born. |
| This golden era of coding ended in the last decade, as school curriculums focused on simply teaching young people how to use software such as Word and PowerPoint, not how to write code and design computer programs. In other words, students became passive consumers, not creative producers. | This golden era of coding ended in the last decade, as school curriculums focused on simply teaching young people how to use software such as Word and PowerPoint, not how to write code and design computer programs. In other words, students became passive consumers, not creative producers. |
| At a time when technology was becoming ever more important for the economy, when we were not only viewing what's available online but editing and uploading too, I think this was a mistake. It fundamentally misunderstood tech – an industry that has broken down the traditional barriers between the consumer and the producer. | At a time when technology was becoming ever more important for the economy, when we were not only viewing what's available online but editing and uploading too, I think this was a mistake. It fundamentally misunderstood tech – an industry that has broken down the traditional barriers between the consumer and the producer. |
| This means that today an ever increasing number of people are producing software, creating new ideas, new products, even new industries. The proliferation of apps is just one example, fuelled as it is by thousands of small developers, rather than the few goliaths who made up the market for software just a decade ago. The digital economy is booming, producing the kind of jobs we need to win in the global race. | This means that today an ever increasing number of people are producing software, creating new ideas, new products, even new industries. The proliferation of apps is just one example, fuelled as it is by thousands of small developers, rather than the few goliaths who made up the market for software just a decade ago. The digital economy is booming, producing the kind of jobs we need to win in the global race. |
| That's why, this week, I'm going to one of the world's largest technology festivals, Campus Party, at London's O2, where I will debate with Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales the role for government alongside entrepreneurs in making sure this country is the best place in the world to learn digital skills, engage with the digital economy and set up the next Wikipedia. | That's why, this week, I'm going to one of the world's largest technology festivals, Campus Party, at London's O2, where I will debate with Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales the role for government alongside entrepreneurs in making sure this country is the best place in the world to learn digital skills, engage with the digital economy and set up the next Wikipedia. |
| Government doesn't create entrepreneurs. But my job as chancellor is to make sure we create the right environment for those entrepreneurs to succeed. First, we're putting in place the right digital infrastructure. We are already committed to extending superfast broadband to 95% of homes and businesses – and this year we announced we want to reach 99%. | Government doesn't create entrepreneurs. But my job as chancellor is to make sure we create the right environment for those entrepreneurs to succeed. First, we're putting in place the right digital infrastructure. We are already committed to extending superfast broadband to 95% of homes and businesses – and this year we announced we want to reach 99%. |
| Second, we are opening up the government data that had previously been locked away in Whitehall. This data not only makes government more accountable and transparent, it's also being used by thousands of small businesses and charities across the UK to produce innovative new apps and services. | Second, we are opening up the government data that had previously been locked away in Whitehall. This data not only makes government more accountable and transparent, it's also being used by thousands of small businesses and charities across the UK to produce innovative new apps and services. |
| But most important of all, we are going to give our young people the very best tech start in life. As this newspaper has so tirelessly argued, it is vital for our economy that British students are once more taught how to program code and master the tools of the digital age. | But most important of all, we are going to give our young people the very best tech start in life. As this newspaper has so tirelessly argued, it is vital for our economy that British students are once more taught how to program code and master the tools of the digital age. |
| From September 2014, the new national curriculum will require that students aged between five and 16 are given the skills they need to build apps and write computer programs. The curriculum will cover theoretical ideas and practical problems, software and hardware systems – and it certainly won't be an easy ride. Students will be given a thorough understanding of logic and set theory, and they'll need to master difficult concepts such as algorithms, programming languages and the architecture of the internet. | From September 2014, the new national curriculum will require that students aged between five and 16 are given the skills they need to build apps and write computer programs. The curriculum will cover theoretical ideas and practical problems, software and hardware systems – and it certainly won't be an easy ride. Students will be given a thorough understanding of logic and set theory, and they'll need to master difficult concepts such as algorithms, programming languages and the architecture of the internet. |
| There will be tough new requirements for computer science teachers, too, who themselves should be able to program code. We've launched new bursaries of up to £9,000 to computer science graduates who become teachers. We have teamed up with the British Computer Society to offer scholarships worth £20,000 each to reward truly exceptional graduates who decide to become computer science teachers. And we're retaining existing teachers. Our education minister, Liz Truss, recently announced £2m of funding to build a network of 400 "master teachers" who will help thousands of others acquire the digital-making skills that they in turn can pass on to their students. | There will be tough new requirements for computer science teachers, too, who themselves should be able to program code. We've launched new bursaries of up to £9,000 to computer science graduates who become teachers. We have teamed up with the British Computer Society to offer scholarships worth £20,000 each to reward truly exceptional graduates who decide to become computer science teachers. And we're retaining existing teachers. Our education minister, Liz Truss, recently announced £2m of funding to build a network of 400 "master teachers" who will help thousands of others acquire the digital-making skills that they in turn can pass on to their students. |
| And we're going beyond schools. In May, I launched the Make Things Do Stuff campaign, bringing together big business and startups, formal education and after school clubs, mentors and children to improve Britain's digital skills by delivering practical tools and digital-making opportunities. It has so far reached more than 100,000 young people who have been inspired to have fun with data, technology and content, creating websites, apps and even a satnav system for bicycles. | And we're going beyond schools. In May, I launched the Make Things Do Stuff campaign, bringing together big business and startups, formal education and after school clubs, mentors and children to improve Britain's digital skills by delivering practical tools and digital-making opportunities. It has so far reached more than 100,000 young people who have been inspired to have fun with data, technology and content, creating websites, apps and even a satnav system for bicycles. |
| And we're making Britain the best place in the world to start a tech business. We were the first country to introduce entrepreneur visas, so that the brightest and best talent from around the world can come to the UK to launch their business and create jobs. We've introduced the most generous tax breaks in the world for investment into startup companies, and made it easier for tech companies to list on the London Stock Exchange, so that tech entrepreneurs can access the capital they need. And we've opened up billions of pounds' worth of public sector IT contracts to innovative British startups, giving thousands of companies the opportunity to secure lucrative government contracts. | And we're making Britain the best place in the world to start a tech business. We were the first country to introduce entrepreneur visas, so that the brightest and best talent from around the world can come to the UK to launch their business and create jobs. We've introduced the most generous tax breaks in the world for investment into startup companies, and made it easier for tech companies to list on the London Stock Exchange, so that tech entrepreneurs can access the capital they need. And we've opened up billions of pounds' worth of public sector IT contracts to innovative British startups, giving thousands of companies the opportunity to secure lucrative government contracts. |
| I'm proud of the measures this government is taking to ensure Britain is in the vanguard of the digital economy. It's all part of our plan to boost growth and bring highly skilled jobs to the UK. Just think of the positive impact that Jimmy Wales has had on the world, and the way that Wikipedia has opened up new learning opportunities for billions of people. Thanks to our commitment to the digital economy, I have no doubt that a new generation of talented British software engineers will follow in Jimmy's footsteps and help create a better future for us all. | I'm proud of the measures this government is taking to ensure Britain is in the vanguard of the digital economy. It's all part of our plan to boost growth and bring highly skilled jobs to the UK. Just think of the positive impact that Jimmy Wales has had on the world, and the way that Wikipedia has opened up new learning opportunities for billions of people. Thanks to our commitment to the digital economy, I have no doubt that a new generation of talented British software engineers will follow in Jimmy's footsteps and help create a better future for us all. |
| Campus Party runs from 2-7 September at the O2 in London | Campus Party runs from 2-7 September at the O2 in London |
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