BBC plans to help get the nation coding

[philip2009]

The BBC's director general, Tony Hall, has announced plans to "bring coding into every home, business and school in the UK".

It comes 30 years on from a BBC push to make computing mainstream by putting BBC Micro computers in the majority of schools.

In a speech to staff, Mr Hall said that the initiative would launch in 2015.

"We want to inspire a new generation to get creative with coding, programming and digital technology," he said.

Government and technology experts are becoming increasingly worried that vital computing skills are no longer being taught in schools.

Meanwhile interest in higher-education IT and computing courses is falling, giving rise to fears about a massive skills gap.

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Not sure how I feel about this, back in the early 80s microcomputers were a completely new phenomenon that warranted public education but nowadays any Tom, Dick, or Harriet with an Internet connection can educate themselves - if they are so inclined. I don't see much of a barrier to entry for learning about IT so is all this fanfare just an educational fad trying to push square pegs into round holes?