Forum to be established to promote digital literacy
A forum designed to help Europe's education systems make the changes necessary for the 21st century is set to be launched by the European Education Partnership. The Digital Literacy forum will be an independent foundation to support and bring together the many existing initiatives aiming to resolve the job skills gap and to promote digital literacy in education systems. Roger Broadie, Chief Executive of the European Education Partnership, said: 'There can be no more important task than ensuring that our young people are properly prepared for the amazing changes in society that this century will bring. 'With industry and commerce changing so rapidly, we need a continuing process to ensure industry can inform understanding of leading edge developments and industry requirements, and educators can propose how best to prepare young people for life. 'We expect the work of the Digital Literacy forum to extend over at least the next ten years, and we appeal to all major companies in Europe to support this initiative.' In every sector technologies are developing so fast that it is difficult for educators to keep up. This initiative aims to ensure that all children from seven or eight years onward should be beginning to grasp the fundamental concepts in the Information Society, by helping educators develop new techniques, tools and understanding of the technological knowledge necessary for economic success. Before the forum is launched in September, the European Education Partnership requires further backing from industry to ensure the Digital Literacy forum is powerful and effective. The forum will act as a focus for the debate about digital literacy, a channel for industry and education to exchange their perspectives, and a forum for top level dialogue to create concrete actions.