Offaly lagging behind in digital skills compared to rest of country
Major push by Offaly County Council to educate young people in digital skills
OFFALY is lagging behind the rest of the country when it comes to digital skills, that was the warning from Ray Bell, Broadband Officer for Offaly County Council, when he addressed a meeting of Tullamore Municipal District.
He said Offaly people would ''traditionally have left school and went to work in Bord na Mona or the ESB. There was less focus around innovation, education and economic investment. We are very far behind in digital skills in Offaly compared to other counties around the country,'' he said.
''Investment in digital skills is so important, we want to make sure that there are opportunities for our young people and that ultimately we can sustain our rural communities.''
Offaly County Council is now taking an active interest in the education of our young people to become proficient in digital skills. Ray Bell is leading the charge and is working with schools on the VEX robots programme.
''We have this programme in all our primary and secondary schools in Offaly. What is key is that we have support from the Government, from the local Enterprise Office and Offaly Local Development provide funding. The LOETB (Laois Offaly Education and Training Board) are also involved. ''Offaly County Council are the ones who are driving this. We have spent over one million euro on that programme since we started,'' he added.
''Initially we did a lot of work with music generation, sports, green flags and all that good stuff, but we never really had a remit in the whole area of digital skills and education. I have often been asked why the Council is so involved in education, it's not traditionally what we do, but I always say it's more about economic development.
''For the last 5 years we have had a huge focus in the area of digital skills and STEM and trying to bring up the education of young people and older people as well. Back when we started in 2018 /2019 over half the schools in Offaly weren't doing any coding or digital skills, now they are all doing both.
''Broadband was a huge issue 5 years ago, we were in a school when we started this. I won't mention the school, but when we went out to download the software for the kids to use they said it was going to take 36 hours. Over the following few years we made sure all the schools in Offaly had high speed broadband and if all we do is give them the foundations to actually deliver the education then we are doing a good job,'' said Mr Bell.
From the start there was a 50/50 buy-in from both boys and girls, however, last year there were more girls involved in the programme than boys.
Last year, the Department of Education had its first computer science week, only two local authorities were involved and they were Offaly and Longford. ''It's important for us, we don't have a university, we link in with Maynooth and Trinity college and MTU in Cork. Offaly County Council also links with Microsoft, Google and Ericsson.''
Ray Bell is not forgetting the older generation either and recently started an intergenerational programme in the library. 12 families took part including grandparents and parents.
In addition a pilot programme is being launched in Banagher where older people can learn about technology, working in partnership with Offaly Local Development,
As a region we received €3.9 million under Just Transition. One million went towards STEM education, a STEM engagement officer, and equipment. Offaly got €250,000 for schools and for a STEM educational officer.
Ray Bell and his team are trying to get digital skills taught as a Leaving Cert subject.
''Up to 4 years ago we had no school teaching computer science, Birr were the first to come online and about two years ago Tullamore College came online. We then said we would work with LOETB to train up teachers in secondary schools to be able to teach it. We started with 11 teachers and 6 completed the course last May, some are still working through it. We have 4 new schools in Offaly this year starting to teach computer science, and if it is in schools it will be sustainable. Tullamore College and the Sacred Heart School are now teaching computer science and another school in the north of the county.''
The council is also involved in the 'Dream Big' project encouraging young people to pursue a career in advanced manufacturing. There is a 'Dream Big' programme happening in the 4 midlands counties starting November 11.
This year the council won a LAMA award' This was for the Best Communications Initiative/Innovation Award for ‘STEAMing Ahead: How Offaly’s Kids are Shaping our Rural Future’ and which recognises and celebrates community and councils working together.