BBC Tries To Tackle Digital Skills Gap By Donating A Million Computers

It seems everyone’s getting in on the ‘we need more IT experts’ trend.

After the Obama administration kickstarted the TechHire initiative to find more IT experts, and Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude’s announcement of the government’s National Cyber Security Programme financial boost, BBC has made a move of its own.

The company announced it will give away one million mini-computers to school children in a bid to improve their coding and IT skills.

The BBC will give away Micro Bits, a computer similar to Raspberry Pi – to every child in year 7 across the UK.

The computers will be followed up with a series of dedicated BBC programmes and online activities.

It will include a new drama based on Grand Theft Auto and a documentary on Bletchley Park, BBC says.

Seenit reports that the broadcaster is also partnering with around 50 organisations, including tech giants BT and Google, to help to fill the UK’s digital skills gap.

Director-General Tony Hall described the initiative as a successor to the 1980’s BBC initiative which saw computing go mainstream.

Lord Hall said: “This is exactly what the BBC is all about – bringing the industry together on an unprecedented scale and making a difference to millions.

“Just as we did with the BBC Micro in the 1980s, we want to inspire the digital visionaries of the future.

“Only the BBC can bring partners together to attempt something this ambitious, this important to Britain’s future on the world stage.

“BBC Make it Digital could help digital creativity become as familiar and fundamental as writing, and I’m truly excited by what Britain, and future great Britons, can achieve.”