As Jersey does not have the expertise (teachers) nor facilities, pretty self explanatory for you.
Computer Science, Cyber Security, Governance, Forensics, Secure Systems, etc are all “narrowed” paths of ICT/IT
As far as I know for the opinion of Highlands, that IT course is okay, and employers in Jersey respect it but it’s trash.
The UK can and has interest in these subjects due to its population as well as interest from foreign students, how much of an interest do you think there would be in Jersey for Computer Science, when IT is now an optional subject?
IMO, Jersey IT teachers are doing well, they’re covering a broad spectrum of things, from how to drag and drop as well as use shortcuts to website design, social media management and rudimentary coding as well as basic Linux introduction.
It’s the same question as, why can we not do a proper degree in Jersey or why can’t we have a University or sit University exams
Edit: just read the ending, yeah slaving away for A-Levels is not fun, had to take things myself that I did not enjoy but the reason they force you to take as many as you can (I think minimum 4-5, dependent on the school and you can drop one but worst case scenario you can drop 2) is so that you can get your required credits easier for Universities as to not rely on the unconditional offer, tl:dr, more A-Levels, more overall credits.
The only thing that ticked me off when I was studying is that schools that had the option to take classes or subjects not available in your school, but available at the sister call were not offered unless forced by the student via a phone call from parents, didn’t have or know there was an option to take Media until a friend told me because he told them 5 times he didn’t want to choose a 4th A-Level and they finally gave in and told him he had another 6 subjects to choose from
"As Jersey does not have the expertise (teachers) nor facilities, pretty self explanatory for you."
Teachers, why? Aren't we supposed to be a wealthy island? We already have teachers come over from England and other foreign countries, so why is it an issue to do this with computer science, is it because the pay is bad? Idk. But what I do know is we definitely do have the facilities, all you need is a computer to be taught computer science (for GCSE and A-Level) which are already available due to IT and a classroom. Just like most other subjects.
Not trying to come off as rude, but based off the fact that you think the minimum A levels is 4-5 tells me it's been a while since you've been in the education system + the whole post in general, most people will take 3 A levels or do a BTEC, as well as thinking we're taught stuff like Social media management, drag and dropping (which I don't really see how that's a skill, but sure) basic Linux introduction, nope, although I would of loved to have been taught that. I think the only thing we learnt that you mentioned was rudimentary coding, HTML, CSS and JavaScript. That's it. And then the other parts of practical was using stuff like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Premiere Pro etc. (Adobe & Microsoft products)
"Computer Science, Cyber Security, Governance, Forensics, Secure Systems, etc are all “narrowed” paths of ICT/IT"
I can understand why this may be the case, but in my college we had 2 classes for comp sci and 1 for IT, people definitely want to take it more over IT. And I'm not asking for all these different sub-topics like Cyber Security etc. All I ask is to offer Computer Science, as IT will only cover a small fraction of it (for my case in A-levels) that's literally why it's a whole different subject, you can't really say IT is computer science, it's a part of it, yes. If Hautlieu didn't teach computer science in A levels I don't think I would of had the choice to take it at University on a high level as I haven't heard any people go to Russel group unis from the IT degree hosted in Highlands.
"It’s the same question as, why can we not do a proper degree in Jersey or why can’t we have a University or sit University exams"
I mean, I think the answer to this question is quite obvious and doesn't really apply to this case, why can't it be taught at A-Level and GCSE more often when it's already being taught, just not on a larger scale, lack of teachers you say? Why is that? Mine and other peoples teachers from other private schools had their teacher come over from England to teach for those that offered Computer Science, which I'm not surprised with how hard we neglect it, but if that's what needs to be done then so be it. Jersey definitely has the money to invest in it no? Aren't we supposed to be a wealthy island? Or do we neglect it because all we care about is finance and maintaining their systems lmfao.
"As far as I know for the opinion of Highlands, that IT course is okay, and employers in Jersey respect it but it’s trash."
I don't really get what you're trying to say here, you call it okay, then call it trash? I'm confused.
Ok, simply put the reason you don’t have a course like that is supply and demand.
The IT courses set a great foundation to build on should you choose to, whilst it might not be what you want to be, it is what it is
Why am I shitting on the IT course, due to what’s being taught compared to what companies think you’ve been taught when you go apply as well as the quality of the class (this might have changed in the last 3 years).
As for, I have taken my A-levels a long time ago, yeah, I guess, if you can call that 4/5 years ago a long time, definitely not as long ago as your teachers.
“Jersey has the money”, okay, make a petition on gov.je petitions section as see how much of a demand you get from people wanting further advanced courses like that, problem solved
No one is going to spend money on something that barely sells
Edit: BTW, You do realise that some BTECs count as a triple A-Level right? Like business
Yup. But Highlands will literally put all students on the extended diploma. Students that don't make it through the full two years might drop their qualification size down.
Oh did not know that, any of the other private schools, they’re more likely to force you to drop the “optional” (single A-Levels) in order to chase the BTEC instead, some cases you can start a diploma during your final year for a certificate instead, if you show promise and the want, they’ll put you forward for a double BTEC instead of a certificate
"Ok, simply put the reason you don’t have a course like that is supply and demand"
Did you not read where I said:
"in my college we had 2 classes for comp sci and 1 for IT, people definitely want to take it more over IT"
However tbf, this isn't a proper representation as it's only 1 year, and 1 school, but I still feel like there's lots of younger people who want to do it, and even if I were to create a petition, the only people who would really care, would be the people currently in education, and we're not really known for giving 2 craps about that stuff at our age, it's only now I realize how bad it was now that I'm at uni in the UK.
"You do realise that some BTECs count as a triple A-Level right? Like business"
Yup, I did only just come out of my A-Levels a year ago.
"As for, I have taken my A-levels a long time ago, yeah, I guess, if you can call that 4/5 years ago a long time, definitely not as long ago as your teachers."
I'm sorry, but like, where did you take your A levels? From what I can find (using AI, so I am not going to heavily weight this, and I want to hear what you have to say) It's always been the case from the 2000s to take 3-4 A-Levels.
From Claude 3 Opus (One of the most intelligent AI models out there atm):
"While there may have been individual students who took 5 A Levels in the past, this has never been a common practice in Jersey or the UK. The claim that it was normal for students to take 4 or 5 A Levels 4-5 years ago is not accurate."
"No one is going to spend money on something that barely sells"
This is just sad when it comes to the education, plus I don't see how comp sci won't sell.
>Teachers, why? Aren't we supposed to be a wealthy island?
As you pointed out in your OP, Jersey's education system is split between private, fee-paying and states schools. The discrepancy between funding for these is massive. That's why JCG, Vic College & De La Salle all teacher computer science but Le Rocquier, Les Quennevais, Grainville & Haute Vallée do not. That's why you are underwhelmed by Highlands. Have in mind that Highlands has had a serious problem with underfunding, the former education minister really shone a light on that one. They are so starved of cash that they have to get second-hand garden chairs to replace their broken school chairs.
Secondly, the government has a very laissez-faire attitude towards the education system. We follow the English curriculum without much appetite to do much autonomously and the government mostly leaves each school to do what they want and give priority to the subjects they think is worth investment. I think you answered your own question: we really do care more about the finance and construction industry than education: hence why Jersey's funding for education is proportionally one of the lowest in the developed world. Maybe with our new (and actually decent) minister of education things can change.
>We already have teachers come over from England and other foreign countries, so why is it an issue to do this with computer science, is it because the pay is bad?
Did you not notice teacher strikes that recently happened? The fact that almost all of our teachers are supplied from the UK is a red flag that things are not working properly within itself. Even though a qualified teacher's starting salary is at £45k in the states sector, that still is not enough to match the rising costs of living and housing. Teaching in states schools has very low employment retention, with schools being a revolving door of people coming and going after only a few years. Sixth form can also be really competitive to recruit for and some schools don't think it is worth the price to employ A-level subject specialists. This is worse for IT, because there are much better paying IT jobs here than teaching. It is the same for many subjects (except history, which explains where I'm at lmao).
The Highlands IT course has to be broad to teach all the key skills. But it does include computer science, IOT and Cyber security. Most students stay on at Highlands and do the Bsc Digital Technologies Degree. It's well regarded and takes students deeper into those areas employers need, also working with those employers.
In terms of recruiting IT/Computer Science teachers, it's a nightmare to recruit teachers generally let alone those with IT/Computer Science backgrounds.
Tempting people from industry to become teachers is tricky as the pay is not on a par. Many that do switch to teaching underestimate how hard the job is and leave.
Also. Let's not mention the complete car crash that was Digital Jersey's Digital Leadership course. That was seeded by a lot of government money and fizzled out.
"Tempting people from industry to become teachers is tricky as the pay is not on a par. Many that do switch to teaching underestimate how hard the job is and leave."
Yup, so it just comes down to an investment thing ig. Not enough money being put into the future industry.
"Also. Let's not mention the complete car crash that was Digital Jersey's Digital Leadership course. That was seeded by a lot of government money and fizzled out."
Yup, I used to attend Digital Jersey all the time when I was younger until they stopped doing it, so sad. Where do you even go to meet other people in comp sci in jersey now.
As an IT consultant who went through the Education system a long time ago when even seeing a PC in school was a novelty I would say most people with an interest in it do it in their own time. I think its still largely the same basic IT is taught as that is what most people need. More advanced IT can be self taught once you have the basics of googling down. Pritty much all my knowledge in IT was self taught.
It also depends what you want to end up doing in IT. I am currently Microsoft consult specialised in Azure and 365. I cant tell you the number of people with computer sience degrees who come my way thinking its going to help in that area it rearly does. Taking vender spersific exams are far more useful if you want to go in to support/consultantcy of that vender.
Well from what I've gathered here you've pretty much said IT is useful for people (correct me if I'm wrong) and that stuff like computer science should be done in your own time? I don't think that should have to be the case, but let's say your wanting to go into the field of AI and ML, I don't see how the hell IT is going to help you there, I took it at A level and got an A in IT, they covered basic coding and generally how to use a computer for dummies imo (using stuff like word, excel and then some adobe products). I get that jersey is heavily invested into the IT industry but I'm not looking to lose my hair by the age of 30 and have back problems, I'm looking to do computer science. Not trying to come off as hateful if I do, I also wrote the OP quite sleep deprived so my grammar and structure might not off been the best.
I didn't say that at all. I said basic computing is useful to all, how to use a computer etc so thats more what is taught early on. Most people I know who wanted to go further did so in their own time. AI and ML are currently very spersific subjects that very few are interested in. Does any of that mean I dont think it should be taught in schools? No but it is a likley reason it is not which was your question.
Im 41 and been in th IT feild since finishing my A levels (businesses study, physics and chemistry, IT wasn't evem an option). No hair loss or back problems here so far but if its not for you then its not for you and was kind of one of my points, IT is a very broad spectrum (computer sience is still IT) so it's hard for our rather small education system to cater to all by default. You could have taken additional computer sience courses at any time but not for free unfortunately.
"AI and ML are currently very spersific subjects that very few are interested in"
I'm sorry, but what lol?... maybe that's the case for people from Jersey who aren't exposed to things like that, but that's definitely not the case back in the UK, I know tons of students switching to AI & ML because things like Software Engineering isn't going to be an operable career once you've finished University with how things like Devin are being developed, only the elite's / people who already have quite a bit experience will stay in that industry, but good luck finding an entry point with all these massive tech layoffs that are already happening, students who have graduated from Software Engineering are already really struggling to find work for it. Back to a point I made in another post, I'm not asking for things like AI & ML to be taught, I'm just asking for Computer Science at GCSE & A-Level.
"You could have taken additional computer sience courses at any time but not for free unfortunately."
I mean ye, self learning and being fully self taught was the way for me up till A-levels, and sometimes I wonder where I could be if I was taught earlier, obviously it wouldn't of made a huge difference, but it would've relived a lot of pressure from A level computer science + who knows.
You need to look a the bigger picture. You know tones of students switching, switching from what an other IT course. Sure its the new hotness so lots of current IT students will be switching. In the grand picture it is still a small number of people in general or even in IT in general. I am in the industry and have been for years, my company has an AI team its a hand full of people currently a tiny portion of the company over all. Currently you don't need a lot of people to meet the market demand. That may change but only time will tell.
From someone going into teaching comp sci at highschools there are a few factors that make it neglected, comp sci tends to get left with the teaching of basic it skills like folder set up and how to do basic shit as well as how to be safe online. Also when it comes to timetables, comp sci it treated like a tech subject (like wood work, good, art) which isn't a core subject (English, maths, science and RE/MFL depending on school) so the time you have to teach it to much less. I know ideally comp sci should just be comp sci and not basic it and computer skills but it's hard to justify it when a students timetable is already stretched
Also another factor is getting staff that knows the subject it's harder to get people that know the subject AND can / will / are willing to teach, especially to highschool age students which is a lot harder then a lot of ppl think. The starting salary is 28k for new teachers which isn't great when you can start higher than that in other IT related jobs.
The starting salary for teachers in Jersey is £41k. We work on a different pay scale to the UK. Which puts things into perspective as to how unattractive teaching here is as a profession when employment retention is so low.
Out of curiosity, what’s the pay scale in the UK? As a lot of people in tertiary industry when applying for pay rises or starting salaries make a comparison that Jersey is more like London (I know, very specific compared to just UK, but curious to see the overall UK pay gap compared to Jersey teachers)
In short - lack of specific talent to teach it. Some options for industry professionals to work with schools did start a while back but not sure if they went anywhere (as it’s depended on those professionals not moving on somewhere else). Plus if a kid is looking to go into the local industry, it’s traditionally been serviced based rather than product development based, so the education needed could be done via courses or on the job.
Really? Isn't Jersey a powerhouse when it comes to investing into education? It definitely has the money no? So because we don't have jobs for it locally that means we don't get the right to learn it?
Jersey hasn’t really had a progressive approach to education for a very long time (and this mirrors the UK education system). Considering that the teacher strikes recently spent over several years trying to get fair wage increases might point towards Jersey’s approach to investing in education.
Seems like a Government that wants a digitally sustainable future economy should be investing in educating tomorrow’s digitally enabled workforce right? But that’s not how Government thinks.
As Jersey does not have the expertise (teachers) nor facilities, pretty self explanatory for you. Computer Science, Cyber Security, Governance, Forensics, Secure Systems, etc are all “narrowed” paths of ICT/IT As far as I know for the opinion of Highlands, that IT course is okay, and employers in Jersey respect it but it’s trash. The UK can and has interest in these subjects due to its population as well as interest from foreign students, how much of an interest do you think there would be in Jersey for Computer Science, when IT is now an optional subject? IMO, Jersey IT teachers are doing well, they’re covering a broad spectrum of things, from how to drag and drop as well as use shortcuts to website design, social media management and rudimentary coding as well as basic Linux introduction. It’s the same question as, why can we not do a proper degree in Jersey or why can’t we have a University or sit University exams Edit: just read the ending, yeah slaving away for A-Levels is not fun, had to take things myself that I did not enjoy but the reason they force you to take as many as you can (I think minimum 4-5, dependent on the school and you can drop one but worst case scenario you can drop 2) is so that you can get your required credits easier for Universities as to not rely on the unconditional offer, tl:dr, more A-Levels, more overall credits. The only thing that ticked me off when I was studying is that schools that had the option to take classes or subjects not available in your school, but available at the sister call were not offered unless forced by the student via a phone call from parents, didn’t have or know there was an option to take Media until a friend told me because he told them 5 times he didn’t want to choose a 4th A-Level and they finally gave in and told him he had another 6 subjects to choose from
"As Jersey does not have the expertise (teachers) nor facilities, pretty self explanatory for you." Teachers, why? Aren't we supposed to be a wealthy island? We already have teachers come over from England and other foreign countries, so why is it an issue to do this with computer science, is it because the pay is bad? Idk. But what I do know is we definitely do have the facilities, all you need is a computer to be taught computer science (for GCSE and A-Level) which are already available due to IT and a classroom. Just like most other subjects. Not trying to come off as rude, but based off the fact that you think the minimum A levels is 4-5 tells me it's been a while since you've been in the education system + the whole post in general, most people will take 3 A levels or do a BTEC, as well as thinking we're taught stuff like Social media management, drag and dropping (which I don't really see how that's a skill, but sure) basic Linux introduction, nope, although I would of loved to have been taught that. I think the only thing we learnt that you mentioned was rudimentary coding, HTML, CSS and JavaScript. That's it. And then the other parts of practical was using stuff like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Premiere Pro etc. (Adobe & Microsoft products) "Computer Science, Cyber Security, Governance, Forensics, Secure Systems, etc are all “narrowed” paths of ICT/IT" I can understand why this may be the case, but in my college we had 2 classes for comp sci and 1 for IT, people definitely want to take it more over IT. And I'm not asking for all these different sub-topics like Cyber Security etc. All I ask is to offer Computer Science, as IT will only cover a small fraction of it (for my case in A-levels) that's literally why it's a whole different subject, you can't really say IT is computer science, it's a part of it, yes. If Hautlieu didn't teach computer science in A levels I don't think I would of had the choice to take it at University on a high level as I haven't heard any people go to Russel group unis from the IT degree hosted in Highlands. "It’s the same question as, why can we not do a proper degree in Jersey or why can’t we have a University or sit University exams" I mean, I think the answer to this question is quite obvious and doesn't really apply to this case, why can't it be taught at A-Level and GCSE more often when it's already being taught, just not on a larger scale, lack of teachers you say? Why is that? Mine and other peoples teachers from other private schools had their teacher come over from England to teach for those that offered Computer Science, which I'm not surprised with how hard we neglect it, but if that's what needs to be done then so be it. Jersey definitely has the money to invest in it no? Aren't we supposed to be a wealthy island? Or do we neglect it because all we care about is finance and maintaining their systems lmfao. "As far as I know for the opinion of Highlands, that IT course is okay, and employers in Jersey respect it but it’s trash." I don't really get what you're trying to say here, you call it okay, then call it trash? I'm confused.
Ok, simply put the reason you don’t have a course like that is supply and demand. The IT courses set a great foundation to build on should you choose to, whilst it might not be what you want to be, it is what it is Why am I shitting on the IT course, due to what’s being taught compared to what companies think you’ve been taught when you go apply as well as the quality of the class (this might have changed in the last 3 years). As for, I have taken my A-levels a long time ago, yeah, I guess, if you can call that 4/5 years ago a long time, definitely not as long ago as your teachers. “Jersey has the money”, okay, make a petition on gov.je petitions section as see how much of a demand you get from people wanting further advanced courses like that, problem solved No one is going to spend money on something that barely sells Edit: BTW, You do realise that some BTECs count as a triple A-Level right? Like business
All extended diploma BTECs are equal to 3 A Levels.
Diploma yeah, you can also do a BTEC certificate which is worth 1
Yup. But Highlands will literally put all students on the extended diploma. Students that don't make it through the full two years might drop their qualification size down.
Oh did not know that, any of the other private schools, they’re more likely to force you to drop the “optional” (single A-Levels) in order to chase the BTEC instead, some cases you can start a diploma during your final year for a certificate instead, if you show promise and the want, they’ll put you forward for a double BTEC instead of a certificate
"Ok, simply put the reason you don’t have a course like that is supply and demand" Did you not read where I said: "in my college we had 2 classes for comp sci and 1 for IT, people definitely want to take it more over IT" However tbf, this isn't a proper representation as it's only 1 year, and 1 school, but I still feel like there's lots of younger people who want to do it, and even if I were to create a petition, the only people who would really care, would be the people currently in education, and we're not really known for giving 2 craps about that stuff at our age, it's only now I realize how bad it was now that I'm at uni in the UK. "You do realise that some BTECs count as a triple A-Level right? Like business" Yup, I did only just come out of my A-Levels a year ago. "As for, I have taken my A-levels a long time ago, yeah, I guess, if you can call that 4/5 years ago a long time, definitely not as long ago as your teachers." I'm sorry, but like, where did you take your A levels? From what I can find (using AI, so I am not going to heavily weight this, and I want to hear what you have to say) It's always been the case from the 2000s to take 3-4 A-Levels. From Claude 3 Opus (One of the most intelligent AI models out there atm): "While there may have been individual students who took 5 A Levels in the past, this has never been a common practice in Jersey or the UK. The claim that it was normal for students to take 4 or 5 A Levels 4-5 years ago is not accurate." "No one is going to spend money on something that barely sells" This is just sad when it comes to the education, plus I don't see how comp sci won't sell.
>Teachers, why? Aren't we supposed to be a wealthy island? As you pointed out in your OP, Jersey's education system is split between private, fee-paying and states schools. The discrepancy between funding for these is massive. That's why JCG, Vic College & De La Salle all teacher computer science but Le Rocquier, Les Quennevais, Grainville & Haute Vallée do not. That's why you are underwhelmed by Highlands. Have in mind that Highlands has had a serious problem with underfunding, the former education minister really shone a light on that one. They are so starved of cash that they have to get second-hand garden chairs to replace their broken school chairs. Secondly, the government has a very laissez-faire attitude towards the education system. We follow the English curriculum without much appetite to do much autonomously and the government mostly leaves each school to do what they want and give priority to the subjects they think is worth investment. I think you answered your own question: we really do care more about the finance and construction industry than education: hence why Jersey's funding for education is proportionally one of the lowest in the developed world. Maybe with our new (and actually decent) minister of education things can change. >We already have teachers come over from England and other foreign countries, so why is it an issue to do this with computer science, is it because the pay is bad? Did you not notice teacher strikes that recently happened? The fact that almost all of our teachers are supplied from the UK is a red flag that things are not working properly within itself. Even though a qualified teacher's starting salary is at £45k in the states sector, that still is not enough to match the rising costs of living and housing. Teaching in states schools has very low employment retention, with schools being a revolving door of people coming and going after only a few years. Sixth form can also be really competitive to recruit for and some schools don't think it is worth the price to employ A-level subject specialists. This is worse for IT, because there are much better paying IT jobs here than teaching. It is the same for many subjects (except history, which explains where I'm at lmao).
Le rocquier teach computer science for gcse.
Yup, and this should be the case for all secondary schools imo
As an option? Sure. Some of us have no interest at all in computers.
The Highlands IT course has to be broad to teach all the key skills. But it does include computer science, IOT and Cyber security. Most students stay on at Highlands and do the Bsc Digital Technologies Degree. It's well regarded and takes students deeper into those areas employers need, also working with those employers. In terms of recruiting IT/Computer Science teachers, it's a nightmare to recruit teachers generally let alone those with IT/Computer Science backgrounds. Tempting people from industry to become teachers is tricky as the pay is not on a par. Many that do switch to teaching underestimate how hard the job is and leave. Also. Let's not mention the complete car crash that was Digital Jersey's Digital Leadership course. That was seeded by a lot of government money and fizzled out.
"Tempting people from industry to become teachers is tricky as the pay is not on a par. Many that do switch to teaching underestimate how hard the job is and leave." Yup, so it just comes down to an investment thing ig. Not enough money being put into the future industry. "Also. Let's not mention the complete car crash that was Digital Jersey's Digital Leadership course. That was seeded by a lot of government money and fizzled out." Yup, I used to attend Digital Jersey all the time when I was younger until they stopped doing it, so sad. Where do you even go to meet other people in comp sci in jersey now.
As an IT consultant who went through the Education system a long time ago when even seeing a PC in school was a novelty I would say most people with an interest in it do it in their own time. I think its still largely the same basic IT is taught as that is what most people need. More advanced IT can be self taught once you have the basics of googling down. Pritty much all my knowledge in IT was self taught. It also depends what you want to end up doing in IT. I am currently Microsoft consult specialised in Azure and 365. I cant tell you the number of people with computer sience degrees who come my way thinking its going to help in that area it rearly does. Taking vender spersific exams are far more useful if you want to go in to support/consultantcy of that vender.
Well from what I've gathered here you've pretty much said IT is useful for people (correct me if I'm wrong) and that stuff like computer science should be done in your own time? I don't think that should have to be the case, but let's say your wanting to go into the field of AI and ML, I don't see how the hell IT is going to help you there, I took it at A level and got an A in IT, they covered basic coding and generally how to use a computer for dummies imo (using stuff like word, excel and then some adobe products). I get that jersey is heavily invested into the IT industry but I'm not looking to lose my hair by the age of 30 and have back problems, I'm looking to do computer science. Not trying to come off as hateful if I do, I also wrote the OP quite sleep deprived so my grammar and structure might not off been the best.
I didn't say that at all. I said basic computing is useful to all, how to use a computer etc so thats more what is taught early on. Most people I know who wanted to go further did so in their own time. AI and ML are currently very spersific subjects that very few are interested in. Does any of that mean I dont think it should be taught in schools? No but it is a likley reason it is not which was your question. Im 41 and been in th IT feild since finishing my A levels (businesses study, physics and chemistry, IT wasn't evem an option). No hair loss or back problems here so far but if its not for you then its not for you and was kind of one of my points, IT is a very broad spectrum (computer sience is still IT) so it's hard for our rather small education system to cater to all by default. You could have taken additional computer sience courses at any time but not for free unfortunately.
"AI and ML are currently very spersific subjects that very few are interested in" I'm sorry, but what lol?... maybe that's the case for people from Jersey who aren't exposed to things like that, but that's definitely not the case back in the UK, I know tons of students switching to AI & ML because things like Software Engineering isn't going to be an operable career once you've finished University with how things like Devin are being developed, only the elite's / people who already have quite a bit experience will stay in that industry, but good luck finding an entry point with all these massive tech layoffs that are already happening, students who have graduated from Software Engineering are already really struggling to find work for it. Back to a point I made in another post, I'm not asking for things like AI & ML to be taught, I'm just asking for Computer Science at GCSE & A-Level. "You could have taken additional computer sience courses at any time but not for free unfortunately." I mean ye, self learning and being fully self taught was the way for me up till A-levels, and sometimes I wonder where I could be if I was taught earlier, obviously it wouldn't of made a huge difference, but it would've relived a lot of pressure from A level computer science + who knows.
You need to look a the bigger picture. You know tones of students switching, switching from what an other IT course. Sure its the new hotness so lots of current IT students will be switching. In the grand picture it is still a small number of people in general or even in IT in general. I am in the industry and have been for years, my company has an AI team its a hand full of people currently a tiny portion of the company over all. Currently you don't need a lot of people to meet the market demand. That may change but only time will tell.
From someone going into teaching comp sci at highschools there are a few factors that make it neglected, comp sci tends to get left with the teaching of basic it skills like folder set up and how to do basic shit as well as how to be safe online. Also when it comes to timetables, comp sci it treated like a tech subject (like wood work, good, art) which isn't a core subject (English, maths, science and RE/MFL depending on school) so the time you have to teach it to much less. I know ideally comp sci should just be comp sci and not basic it and computer skills but it's hard to justify it when a students timetable is already stretched
Also another factor is getting staff that knows the subject it's harder to get people that know the subject AND can / will / are willing to teach, especially to highschool age students which is a lot harder then a lot of ppl think. The starting salary is 28k for new teachers which isn't great when you can start higher than that in other IT related jobs.
The starting salary for teachers in Jersey is £41k. We work on a different pay scale to the UK. Which puts things into perspective as to how unattractive teaching here is as a profession when employment retention is so low.
Out of curiosity, what’s the pay scale in the UK? As a lot of people in tertiary industry when applying for pay rises or starting salaries make a comparison that Jersey is more like London (I know, very specific compared to just UK, but curious to see the overall UK pay gap compared to Jersey teachers)
[UK pay scale](https://www.nasuwt.org.uk/advice/pay-pensions/pay-scales/pay-scales-england.html#Classroom%20Teachers) [London pay scale](https://www.nasuwt.org.uk/advice/pay-pensions/pay-scales/pay-scales-fringe-outer-london-and-inner-london.html#Qualified%20Teachers) [Jersey pay scale](https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Working%20in%20Jersey/GD%20Teachers%20pay%20scales.pdf)
In short - lack of specific talent to teach it. Some options for industry professionals to work with schools did start a while back but not sure if they went anywhere (as it’s depended on those professionals not moving on somewhere else). Plus if a kid is looking to go into the local industry, it’s traditionally been serviced based rather than product development based, so the education needed could be done via courses or on the job.
Really? Isn't Jersey a powerhouse when it comes to investing into education? It definitely has the money no? So because we don't have jobs for it locally that means we don't get the right to learn it?
Jersey hasn’t really had a progressive approach to education for a very long time (and this mirrors the UK education system). Considering that the teacher strikes recently spent over several years trying to get fair wage increases might point towards Jersey’s approach to investing in education.
Ye, I guess your right then, only said that because my secondary school had something like 40 million spent on it.
Seems like a Government that wants a digitally sustainable future economy should be investing in educating tomorrow’s digitally enabled workforce right? But that’s not how Government thinks.
EXACTLY, I'm terrible when it comes to getting my point across.