Designed to equip the local workforce with skills for the 21st century, the programme aims to furnish children with the ICT knowledge required for employment and will also give teachers the opportunity to brush up on their core ICT skills. LEA's involved in the project include Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

The new internet based programme offers a variety of information, resources and services for schools, colleges, businesses and communities. The vision of the project is to improve economic prosperity in South Yorkshire with a particular focus on ICT. The ECDL qualification was selected to be part of this programme to offer teachers and children the chance to learn essential ICT skills and benchmark their knowledge with an internationally recognised qualification.

ECDL is designed to cover the key concepts of computing within seven modules including: using the computer and managing files, word processing, spreadsheets, database, presentation, and information and communication. A test for each must be passed before the ECDL certificate is awarded. The qualification also offers flexible learning options that enable teachers and pupils to take the tests in the form that is most convenient for them, including face-to-face, as a self-study option, via CD ROM or an Intranet.

Commenting on the selection of ECDL as a part of this initiative, Christine Lewis, Programme Director of South Yorkshire's e-learning programme, e.sy.info, said, "ECDL is to be included as part of our strategy because it offers basic ICT skills up to NQF level 2 in a modular structure, is easily adaptable for on-line delivery and is internationally recognised. We considered ECDL to be focused at the right level to raise the baseline of IT skills across the sub-region."

ECDL UK Director, Pete Bayley, says, "We are very pleased to have been selected for this pioneering programme. The ECDL qualification will give teachers and children the confidence to make the most out of using ICT both inside and outside school. Children can take the core skills that they develop from the ECDL and use these skills in their working life."