Seeing ICT teacher numbers plummet across Scotland’s schools is an alarming development. Computing is not just another subject, it’s the digital backbone of the future.
To equip our young people for tomorrow’s world, we must embed digital literacy into the heart of education today. That starts with creating excitement, building confidence, and offering real-world relevance from an early age.
That’s why I welcome initiatives like Scottish Digital Literacy Week 2025, starting on May 12th, which brings live sessions for learners and educators across the country. Led by Education Scotland’s dedicated Digilearn team and enriched by input from guest partners, this national week aims to raise awareness of digital literacy, what it is, why we all need it, and how it can be effectively taught. These types of high-impact events not only spotlight the importance of digital skills but help make them accessible to all.
Equally inspiring are hyper-local efforts like the Inverclyde STEM Festival, returning from 7–14 June 2025 after a successful inaugural run in 2024. Community-led events like this prove that passion for STEM is thriving at the grassroots.
They provide fun, hands-on opportunities for young people to explore science and technology, often sparking lifelong interest and ambition. We need more of these across every region to create a culture where digital confidence is built early and often.
At the British Youth International College (BYITC), this is our daily mission. We’ve seen a huge surge in demand for our game-based computing classes for children aged 7–14. When learning is interactive and skill-driven, it becomes exciting, not intimidating. Our free trial sessions allow children and parents to experience firsthand how vital it is to understand the building blocks of computing.
But tools alone aren’t enough. We need passionate, prepared educators to bring these lessons to life. That’s why we’ve built a robust in-house training system and an Online Teacher Training Programme to upskill those who want to teach our innovative digital and computing courses.
If Scotland is to reverse the decline in ICT educators, we must reframe digital teaching as a dynamic, essential career and give teachers the confidence and training to thrive.
My own journey into education was driven by a moment with my son, Dhruv. He was in Primary 5 when he struggled with a basic maths question. As a computer science academic, this was a wake-up call. I taught him using the ancient Abacus Maths method, a tool that improves numerical agility, memory, and focus.
Within six days, he was calculating faster than a calculator. He later became known as the “Human Calculator” on ITV’s Little Big Shots, and his story sparked the birth of BYITC in 2015. Today, BYITC is more than just maths. We teach coding, computing science, English, science, and entrance exam prep, all with a focus on creativity, critical thinking, and real-world application. We’ve even integrated Olivia, one of the UK’s first AI teaching assistant, to personalise and streamline the learning journey.
If I were in charge of Scotland’s education agenda, I would integrate Abacus Maths and coding into every school curriculum. These skills aren’t just academic, they are life tools. Scotland has the talent, technology, and teaching potential to lead the way in digital literacy, but it will take coordinated efforts between government, schools, parents, and organisations like ours.
National events like Digital Literacy Week and local celebrations like Inverclyde STEM Festival prove that there’s a real appetite for change. Let’s build on this momentum. Let’s ensure every child in Scotland not only consumes technology but creates with it, understands it, and thrives because of it.
The future isn’t just digital. It’s ours to shape, one confident, curious learner at a time.
