http://www.computerandvideogames.com/ar ... ?id=263809

Programming yes, we did and that was back in the 80's (albeit BASIC). They shouldn't be trained up to only be capable of applying for customer service jobs.

The whole curriculum should be wiped clean, start again, with modern and future jobs in mind rather than focussing everything on access to university degrees that are getting weaker every year. The breadth of choice at university is massive and mind-boggling compared with a narrow, restrictive secondary school education, as universities have moved with the times, it's time for primary and secondary schools to catch up.

+1

I think they need to go back to basics, how a computer works and the principles of programming.

I found it incredible, when I was teaching a degree project seminar, that none of the students knew any optimisation techniques, even the "basics", like always testing positives in an if...then statement, because it requres fewer clock cycles, they often checked the false and "thened" the positive result, slowing the whole process down, because they though about the negative result first.

Why not? English literature is one subject that has grown up around what is effectively an entertainment industry (and a subject that is not considered a lightweight one by universities, either, unlike media studies). Why shouldn't ICT include some study of another entertainment form? Just because computer games are used for relaxation and enjoyment doesn't mean they have to remain that way when studied in the classroom

Yes and writing games programs was one way that many taught themselves how to program. If you have an objective that will keep you motivated then it helps with the studying. In fact if it can be shown how to achieve certain events that you need maths, it might actually help the study of maths as well. It will show the use of maths in everyday programming and might help make the maths more relevant to the kids.