“Information and communications technologies (ICT) have changed so many aspects for the society in which we live.  This process is accelerating, and for individuals to be included in this emerging technological society requires them to be competent users of ICT” Clarke and Englebright, 2003; Candy, 2003

Alongside literacy and numeracy ICT is fast becoming an essential basic skill for everyone.  Today most jobs require at least a functional knowledge of IT and this knowledge will increasingly effect people’s day-to-day lives as the   e government agenda develops.  The new ICT Skill for Life is to be introduced in order to make training for these basic skills available to adult community learners around the country. The curriculum is currently in draft form and a number of national pathfinder projects to implement the curriculum in a range of settings are underway.  ICT became part of the Skills for Life national strategy in 2003 as detailed in the government white paper “21st Century Skills: realising our potential; individuals, employers, nation”.

A range of initiatives and projects to support the development of ICT are underway in the borough including the Rotherham Connected Community project, Rotherham Grid for Learning (RGfL), RMBC have produced a five-year ICT Strategy for the adult learning service of the council  “RMBC Education, Culture and Leisure Services ICT Strategy 2005-2010” which outlines the ways in which the council’s adult learning service is supporting this vision of ICT and lifelong learning. 

These initiatives contribute to both the local, sub regional and national strategies for ICT and e learning and all the partners involved are working towards giving learners and education practitioners in the borough the best possible tools with which to equip themselves in the information age.

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