The DfEE has welcomed the announcement in the Chancellor’s pre-budget statement to develop IT training for adults.
Mr Blunkett said the allocations - £25 million to give up to 50,000 people basic IT training, £150 million across the UK to improve school buildings, £10 million to boost enterprise skills in schools and £12.5 million to expand childcare within further education colleges - would improve the quality and accessibility of education particularly for those who are disadvantaged.
Mr Blunkett continued: "Working with the BBC Webwise campaign this month, we will invest £25 million to make opportunities available for up to 50,000 people to get the information technology skills they need to increase their employability, and, if they need it, to improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills at the same time.
"The Government is committed to widespread accessibility of these courses and vouchers will be made available that can be used in the new network of local learning centres where people will be able to gain hands-on experience of ICT. In addition, we plan to make changes to the current work permit procedures to help people with specialist ICT skills to work in Britain.
"School buildings throughout the UK will benefit from an extra £150 million - £100 million in the form of PFI credits and an additional sum of £50 million for the New Deal for Schools capital programme. I will be announcing further details of this later this week."
"Without access to childcare many lone parents find it difficult to go into further education and gain the qualifications that will help them find jobs. To address this £12.5 million more will be allocated specifically for childcare for those in further education. This will help create places for 10,000 more children.
Schools will also benefit from a £10 million package of measures to boost enterprise skills in schools. This includes:
* £5 million to improve the quality of education business partnerships in schools - particularly in areas covered by Education Action Zones and the Excellence in Cities programme;
* £3 million to enhance teachers’ professional development and improve the quality of work experience for students;
* £2 million to help double the scale of enterprise programmes with a proven track record of success, such as those provided by Understanding Industry and Young Enterprise (including Junior Achievement in primary schools).
"Developing the enterprise skills of young people throughout the country will also form part of the National Campaign for Enterprise, which will be supported by the Government. Due to be launched next spring, the campaign aims to inspire young people to go into business. "
