Digital Skills - Ministerial Response - 2 October 2014

Findings

Comments

1

The  Sub-Panel  was  concerned by the relatively low volume of submissions  received  directly from  the  digital  industry,  but acknowledges  that  it  is  itself relatively  small  in  scale  at present and is well represented by Digital Jersey.

The  relatively  low  level  of  direct  responses  is  a testament to the trust that the digital sector in Jersey places in Digital Jersey. They (Digital Jersey) are acting as aggregators of the diverse range of views on many topics exhibited by the digital sector.

2

Stakeholders  have predominantly  reacted positively  to  Digital  Jersey's Developing  a  Digital  Jersey' Strategy  although  particular concerns were raised regarding highly  ambitious  job  creation targets.

The Minister welcomes the fact that the majority of Stakeholders  responded  positively  to  the  Panel's approaches.  Whilst  the  targets  set  might  appear high, the Minister welcomes the ambition shown by both  the  Digital  Jersey  Board  and  Executive  in setting  such  high  targets  in  consultation  with industry Stakeholders. The Economic Development Department  (EDD)  will  continue  to  monitor  and report on the progress being made.

3

Despite some set-backs, Digital Jersey is an increasingly active organisation,  now  responsible for a wide-range of initiatives and engagement throughout the digital and social communities. The  successful  launch  and subsequent  opportunities provided by the Digital Hub are of particular note.

The Minister both welcomes and shares the Sub- Panels views and recognises that Digital Jersey is now delivering high-profile, high quality initiatives that are driving real value amongst both the sector and social groupings.

The Digital Hub represents a significant investment by  Digital  Jersey  in  establishing  an  avant-garde local  footprint  and  focal  point  for  future  digital development, appealing to a wide cross section of age and industry groups.

4

The  Vision  for  IT  in Education' is subject to a short timeframe,  2013-2015,  but contains long term objectives.

The Minister for ED welcomes this new approach by  Education,  Sport  and  Culture  (ESC)  to  IT education in Jersey.

It is the short term investment that will drive much longer term education, skills and training outputs that  will  help  secure  the  future  employment interests of the digital sector.

5

Work on a new IT Strategy for schools  began  considerably before September 2012, but the

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final  Vision  for  IT'  was  not launched until October 2013.

6

Reaction  to  the  Education, Sport  and  Culture  Vision  for IT  in  Education  2013-15'  has been  broadly  supportive, although  there  has  been  some criticism that this Vision should have been produced sooner.

The Minister for ED welcomes this new approach by ESC to IT education in Jersey.

7

The  significant  opportunity presented by fibre connections to initiate change in the way IT is taught and used in all schools is recognised. However, such a change is not so dependent on fibre that an earlier IT strategy could not have been developed and implemented.

8

Unlike previously implemented Education  IT  Strategies,  the Vision  for  IT  in  Education 2013-15' is not predominantly about  hardware  and  software, but about changing the nature of teaching, changing the role of  teachers  and  changing  the relationship  between  the teacher,  the  learner  and  the learning.

The Minister for ED welcomes this new approach by ESC to IT education in Jersey.

The new inter-relationship between teacher, learner and learning is to be welcomed but in the view of the  Department  should  extend  further  to  include both  employers  and  social/third-sector  groupings, who are the ultimate end-users' of the education process.

9

Development  of  all  individual school  business  plans  was originally due to be completed by January 2014, subsequently extended  to  March,  with implementation beginning from the  start  of  the  year.  It  is concerning  that  in  June  2014, Education,  Sport  and  Culture still  had  10  schools  requiring minor amendments to plans and 6 schools identified as needing more help.

The Minister for ED welcomes this new approach by ESC to IT education in Jersey.

The Minister for ED would take a more pragmatic view to that of the Sub-Panel in that it is perhaps more important to take the time to establish robust, deliverable business plans most likely to deliver the quality and quantity of future employees' having the knowledge and skill sets that industry is likely to require.

10

Requiring individual schools to develop their IT Business Plans represents a significant change from  previous  top-down' culture in the Education, Sport and Culture Department. Whilst recognising the advantages this presents to schools to tailor to their  needs,  this  has  been  a

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significant  challenge,  even more so for some schools than others.

11

The  first  phase  of  funding (£1.5 million)  for  the implementation  of  school  IT Business  Plans  will  be  made available to schools for the start of the school year in September 2014.  However,  whilst  this money is available, funding for the second phase will need to be  secured  through  the  next Medium Term Financial Plan.

Funding for future Schools IT business plans is a vital component of the 2016-19 MTFP and the new Minister for ED will probably work closely with the new Minister for ES&C to ensure that appropriate priority and funding is given to this.

12

The  Panel  has  been disappointed  during  parts  of this  Review  with  avoidable delays  on  the  part  of  the Minister  for  Education,  Sport and  Culture  in  ensuring  his Department's  adequate  and timely  engagement  with  the Scrutiny  process.  This  has significantly  impacted  our ability to complete the Review within the intended timeframe.

13

With  all  schools  being different,  not  all  are  expected by  ESC  to  complete  and implement  their  IT  Business Plans at the same speed. ESC is actively targeting more support at  the  schools  that  are  less confident  or  equipped  to develop such a process.

The Minister for ED welcomes this new approach by ESC to IT education in Jersey.

14

Some schools have worked in clusters  to  develop  their business plans. This involves a secondary  school  grouping together  with  feeder  primary schools  to  minimise inconsistencies  in  the  digital skills levels amongst the feeder schools  themselves,  and between  a  Secondary  school and its feeder Primaries.

The Minister for ED welcomes this new approach by school groupings and ESC to IT education in Jersey  –  it  is  important  that  a  continuum  of  IT learning is put in place throughout the education process that produces the quantity and quality of future local IT employees.

15

Whilst  there  are  notable potential  advantages,  initial concerns  have  been  identified about  ESC's  approach  of requiring  schools  to  develop

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their  own  IT  business  plan, including how this might affect consistency  and  the  need  for appropriate  support  to  be provided by ESC to schools.

16

To  encourage  consistency,  all school IT business plans must be  approved  by  Education, Sport  and  Culture  to  secure funding,  with  assessment criteria  and  guidelines  having being  shared  with  all  schools from  the  beginning  of  the business plan process.

The Minister for ED welcomes this new approach by ESC to IT education in Jersey.

17

It  is  too  early  to  judge  either way whether Education, Sport and  Culture's  approach  of requiring  schools  to  develop their  own  IT  Business  Plans, rather than top-down, has been successful.

18

Stakeholders  are  unanimous that  a  digital  divide  amongst schools and pupils must not be allowed to grow. If consistency is not managed as effectively as planned  by  Education,  Sport and  Culture,  then  the  current Vision  for  IT  in  Education might inadvertently exacerbate this problem.

The  Minister  for  ED  shares  the  view  of Stakeholders and will work closely with Ministerial colleagues to avoid any future growth in digital divide'.

19

There  is  currently  no  social premium  within  Education, Sport and Culture's IT funding model  to  try  to  assist  those schools  and  pupils  facing  the biggest  challenges  regarding IT.

20

Education, Sport and Culture's approach  to  e-safety  has changed. Previously top-down, schools now have the option to develop an individually tailored policy if they so choose, within Education,  Sport  and  Culture guidelines.

21

Despite  changes  to  the  model of establishing e-safety policies in  schools,  pupil  safety  must always  remain  the  absolute priority.

The Minister for ED welcomes this new approach and shares the views of the Sub-Panel.

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22

Education,  Sport  and  Culture has in post an e-Learning and e- Safety  co-ordinator  to  provide schools  with  relevant information  and  training,  to establish appropriate individual polices  and  to  oversee consistency.

The Minister for ED welcomes this new approach by ESC to IT education in Jersey.

23

The challenge of changing the teaching  culture,  methods  and environment within schools to achieve the aims and objectives of the Vision for IT' is widely acknowledged  and  not underestimated.

24

Teacher  training  features prominently in the thinking and plans of Education, Sport and Culture  and  identification  of each  school's  need  is  a  core requirement of the IT Business Plans.

The Minister for ED welcomes this new approach by ESC to IT education in Jersey.

25

It is not yet apparent that there has been significant delivery of teacher  training  despite  the upcoming  implementation  of the  Vision  for  IT'  from September 2015.

26

All pupils have an entitlement to  appropriate  standards  of teaching.  This  will  be monitored by Education, Sport and  Culture  with  regard  to teachers' use of technology.

27

Education,  Sport  and  Culture will in part use the Professional Partnering  Programme  to  help monitor implementation of the Vision  for  IT  and  maintain appropriate standards in the use by  teachers  of  technology  to effectively enhance learning.

28

There  were  previous differences of opinion between Education,  Sport  and  Culture and  Digital  Jersey  about  the appropriate  level  of  focus  on developing  suitably  skilled school  leavers  to  help  meet industry requirements.

The  Minister  for  ED  is  glad  that  any  previous concerns  regarding  level  of  focus  have  been eliminated and that a broad-reaching and combined approach to the future IT development of school leavers has now been agreed and is in the process of being delivered.

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29

Education,  Sport  and  Culture and Digital Jersey are now in agreement that students exiting school  at  16  should  have  a range of skills. This should be a combination  of  specific curriculum  based  knowledge and  more  generalised  skills including  teamwork,  problem solving and communication.

The Minister for ED welcomes this new approach by  ESC  and  Digital  Jersey  to  future  education priorities in Jersey.

30

Digital  Jersey  has  commented positively  on  the  direction  of travel  established  in  the development of digital skills for school pupils by the Vision for IT in Education.

The  Minister  for  ED  welcomes  the  fact  that  a coordinated and combined direction of travel' has now been agreed.

31

IT  skills  in  schools  will  be developed in 2 distinguishable ways  via  the  Vision  for  IT'. Firstly, general digital skills of all pupils should be improved through the change in teaching culture  and  methodology,  and secondly, and more directly, by the  introduction  of  a  new  IT curriculum  from  September 2014.

The Minister for ED welcomes this new approach by ESC to IT education in Jersey.

32

Despite  some  courses  at Highlands College, the formal provision of professional digital skills  education  post  16  is limited.  It  appears  that  the digital industry has recognised a  need  to  bridge  this  gap through its own initiatives.

Working in conjunction with the Skills Executive, it is paramount Highlands College signs up to and delivers a future programme of digitally-focussed learning programmes that meet the needs of both employers and students. Digital Jersey is committed to working with Highlands and the Skills Executive to deliver programmes that are aligned to short and medium term demand from industry.

33

It is widely accepted that some specialised  inward  migration will  be  required  to  stimulate and  support  the  growth  of  a thriving digital sector in Jersey.

The Minister for ED strongly welcomes this Sub- Panel Finding and looks forward to working with new Ministerial colleagues to broker a solution that allocates  an  appropriate  number  of  delegated licences under both the current Interim Population Policy and any future Migration Policy that can be reserved solely for the needs of the digital sector. The Economic Growth and Diversification Strategy and  Enterprise  Action  Plan  are  predicated  on allowing appropriate levels of inward migration to support the growth and diversification of the digital sector  and,  by  doing  so,  create  further  job opportunities for local people.

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34

States  policy  requires  a 1:4 ratio  of  inward  migration v's  local  appointments  in  the sector.

The Minister for ED recognises that future inward migration may well follow such a historical trend and that such a trend is prevalent within the digital sector. See answer to 33 above.

35

Local  employment opportunities  in  the  emerging digital sector are more than just skilled  IT  positions,  and include  more  general  business support roles.

The future growth of the digital sector is likely to provide opportunities for a wide cross section of employees,  however  it  is  vital  that  Government continues to  make its investment  at  the strategic level  and  thereby  encourage  industry  and individuals to make their own investment in order to capitalise on economic growth opportunities.

36

There  are  concerns  that  the timelines of the Digital Jersey strategy  and  Education,  Sport and  Culture  Vision  do  not appear to converge as would be necessary  to  meet  Digital Jersey's short and medium term goals regarding local jobs.

In  addition  to  the  ESC  initiatives  in  terms  of education,  it  is  important  that  the  Sub-Panel recognises that some of the differential would be eliminated through limited inward migration.

37

The new IT curriculum begins from September 2014. It will be a  number  of  years  before  the first  pupils  will  leave  school with the benefit of its full cycle.

38

Steps have been taken to try to bridge  the  short-medium  term gaps  in  skills  development between  Digital  Jersey's strategy and Education's Vision for IT. This has involved some collaborative  initiatives between  Education,  Sport  and Culture and Digital Jersey and significant  industry  based projects, such as those seen at the Digital Hub.

The Minister for ED welcomes recognition by the Sub-Panel of the tremendous progress already made and the momentum being built across both industry and schools in the digital sector. This momentum needs to be maintained and scaled up however if Jersey  is  to  achieve  its  longer  term  Growth priorities.

39

Jersey  is  not  alone  in recognising  the  opportunities presented  by  continually evolving  technology,  and  the need  to  develop  appropriate skills to seize them. Malta and Estonia  are  often  cited  as particularly clear examples and are  demonstrably  more advanced  than  Jersey  in delivering associated strategies.

Whilst  other  jurisdictions  may  currently  enjoy  a lead' over Jersey in certain areas, it is important that  the  Island  identify  niche  areas  where  it  can make early progress and then make the strategic Government investment required to secure market leadership' position.

40

Presently only 7.5 per cent of interactions  between  Islanders and government are carried out in a digital form, electronically.

The current Minister for ED fully supports the drive to  achieve  the  stated  2018  interactions  target however  recognises  that  a  significant  financial investment will be required by the States in order to

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The  States  aim  to  increase digital  interactions  with Islanders  to  nearer  75%  by 2018.

ensure delivery. It is encouraging that e-government is making good progress with the award of the first significant  contract  for  the  detailed  design  phase due to be awarded in Q4 2014.

41

£7 million  is  available  under current funding for delivery of Phase  1  of  the  e-government programme,  including  the establishment of a full service e-government  platform  by  the end of 2016.

The current Minister for ED fully recognises that a significant financial investment will be required by the States in order to ensure delivery of Phase 1 of the  e-government  programme.  The  Council  of Minister has approved funding for the project which is on schedule. This funding was reconfirmed in the 2015 budget presented to the States by the Minister for Treasury and Resources.

42

Phase  1  of  the  e-government programme links existing core systems through an enterprise service bus', allowing them to talk  to  each  other.  This establishes  a  single  citizen portal whereby citizens will be able  to  digitally  interact  with the States.

43

Tell  Us  Once'  is  a  core objective of e-government and will require Phase 1 to deliver the  necessary  capacity  for States IT systems to effectively and appropriately talk to each other.

44

There  is  an  ongoing  longer term  funding  requirement  for the  second  phase  of  e- government between 2016 and 2019 which will be subject to a successful  bid  from  the  next Medium Term Financial Plan.

Funding for Phase 2 of e-government will be a vital component  of  the  2016-19  MTFP  and  the  new Minister for ED will work closely with the new Council  of  Ministers  to  ensure  that  appropriate priority and funding is given to this work.

45

There  is  confidence  amongst the stakeholders that the target of  increasing  online/digital interactions with Islanders from 7.5% to near 75% by 2018 is very  realistic  and  should  be achieved in the relatively short to medium term.

The  Minister  for  ED  shares  the  confidence  of Stakeholders and will work closely with Ministerial colleagues to ensure that appropriate priority and funding is given to this work and delivery against the targets.

46

To help the 25% not accounted for by the States e-government interaction  target  of  75%,  the need  for  digital  skill development  initiatives  and plans is recognised.

The Minister for ED will work with Digital Jersey and social support groups to put in place a plan for assisting  the  other  25%'  to  engage  with  e- government. This will include, but not be limited to, access to both the equipment and training to reduce this figure within a relatively short timeframe.

47

To  avoid  creation  of  a community digital divide it will

The Minister for ED will work with Digital Jersey and social support groups to put in place a plan for

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be essential to train and prepare the  population  to  use  the  e- government  platform effectively,  both  in  terms  of skills and connectivity.

assisting  the  other  25%'  to  engage  with  e- government and have access to both the equipment and training to reduce this figure within a relatively short timeframe.

48

Digital Jersey has a particular responsibility through its social objectives  to  address  digital divide concerns for the whole community, not least the 25%' group.

The Minister for ED will work with Digital Jersey to put in place a plan to help minimise the digital divide and encourage future online participation.

49

Digital Jersey has accepted that its  business  plan  and  strategy does  not  have  adequate  depth around  general  skills development  in  the  overall population  and  is  working  to address this situation.

The Minister for ED will work with Digital Jersey to put in place additional components to its current plan that increasingly reflects the need to up-skill a much greater part of the local population.

50

The  States  also  have  a responsibility  towards  the 25%'  group  and  aim  to undertake associated education and  infrastructure  provision through  libraries,  Highlands College and the Parishes. The States  will  also  continue  to offer  traditional  platforms  for service delivery.

51

The  involvement  of  the Parishes  will  be  critical  in achieving  some  of  the  targets regarding  e-government, particularly  for  vulnerable sections of society.

52

Failure  to  improve  the  digital skills  of  the  25%  might exacerbate  digital  divide  and may  further  disadvantage already  vulnerable  groups  in turn  undermining  major objectives, such as the growth of e-health.

The Minister for ED will work with Digital Jersey to put in place a plan to help minimise the digital divide and encourage future online participation.

53

In  the  short  term,  most  e- government  services  will  be provided  online  and  require insubstantial  connectivity  to enable basic web browsing.

The bandwidth required for e-government services to  be  accessed  will  not  exceed  that  required  to enable basic web browsing (typically 2Mb/sec).

54

More  advanced  e-health  type applications will require higher levels  of  connectivity,  which should  be  assisted  by

The Gigabit Jersey project will deliver the potential for  every  residential  and  commercial  property  to access bandwidth of up to a world-leading 1Gb/sec. This  infrastructure  will  be  capable  of  supporting

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infrastructure initiatives such as Gigabit Jersey.

present and future e-Health initiatives.

55

In  implementing  its  Gigabit Jersey  programme,  JT  has installed its fibre network to all schools  in  readiness  for Education, Sport and Culture's tender process to provide a new IT network for schools and to over 10,000 homes.

The Minister for ED is grateful for the efforts of ESC and JT in achieving this early-stage investment that  will  play  an  important  part  in  Schools delivering  future  education  initiatives  capable  of reducing  future  skills  and  digital  divide deficiencies.

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

1

The  Minister  for  Education, Sport  and  Culture  must ensure  momentum  is maintained  in  the implementation of the Vision for IT in Education' to avoid the  significant  potential consequences of if you miss it by a month you have missed it  by  a  year'  regarding  the academic year.

2

The  Minister  for  Economic Development  must  ensure that appropriate gathering of statistical  information  and key  performance  indicators are undertaken in relation to, and  by,  Digital  Jersey,  to inform  progress  against objectives  on  an  ongoing basis.

Accept

This  is standard practice and is already implemented at a number of levels  as  part of  standard EDD Governance activity established  in the partnership Agreement.

3

The  next  Minister  for Education, Sport and Culture will  need  to  prioritise  the development  of  a  long  term strategy  to  complement  and underpin  the  long-term objectives of the Vision for IT'.

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

4

The  Minister  for  Education, Sport  and  Culture  must ensure  that  appropriate gathering  of  statistical information  and  key performance  indicators  are undertaken in relation to the Vision for IT in Education to inform  progress  against objectives.

5

It  is  imperative  that  the Minister for Education, Sport and  Culture  secures  the required funding in the next Medium Term Financial Plan to  keep  momentum  behind the  planned  pedagogical changes and associated digital skills development.

6

The  Chief  Minister  should ensure  that  Ministers  fully comply  with  the  Code  of Practice  for  Scrutiny  Panels and  the  Public  Accounts Committee, paying particular attention  to  the  need  to provide timely  and  adequate information to Panels.

7

The Minister for ES&C must ensure  that  appropriate support to schools continues to be provided throughout the delivery phase of the Vision for IT', and beyond, in order to help achieve its long term ambitions.

8

All  schools  should  be required by ESC to work in appropriate clusters.

9

ESC  should  facilitate scheduled  meetings  of  all Head Teachers (Primary and Secondary)  to  share  best practice  in  IT.  The  same should occur for all Heads of IT,  either  at  the  same scheduled  meetings  as  Head Teachers or separately.

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

10

Education, Sport and Culture must  work  to  provide consistency across the Island schools  to  ensure  that  the acquisition of digital skills is not a postcode lottery.

11

An  examination  should  be undertaken  by  the  Minister for  Education,  Sport  and Culture  about  the  merits  or otherwise  of  introducing  a social premium to the funding of  the  IT  strategy  for education from 2016.

12

School e-safety policy should also  educate  and  equip students to be safer users of the internet outside of school.

13

It  must  be  ensured  that teachers  are  provided  with ongoing training support, and that training and standards of teaching using IT are subject to ongoing monitoring.

14

A  structured,  comprehensive programme  of  identified teacher training requirements should  be  developed  and  be ready  to  implement  by Education, Sport and Culture from  the  start  of  term  in September 2014.

15

Education, Sport and Culture will need to ensure that new expectations  regarding  the use  of  technology  to effectively  enhance  learning are fully communicated to the Professional Partners.

16

Through  assessment  of appropriate  statistical monitoring  and  working  in partnership  with  the  digital industry,  Education,  Sport and  Culture  should  be flexible  provide  appropriate higher education courses and learning  opportunities tailored to the digital sector.

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

17

Through  assessment  of appropriate  statistical monitoring and dialogue, the Ministers  for  Education, Sport  and  Culture  and Economic Development must work together to help support the  growth  of  the  digital sector and achieve associated local  employment opportunities.

EDD/ ESC

Accept

18

Where  inward  migration occurs,  it  should  be specialised in nature.

EDD

Accept

As a HAWAG Member,  the Minister  for ED  will  work with Ministerial colleagues  to ensure  that priority  is given  to skilled employees where  inward migration  is concerned.

20

To  help  the  success  of  the highly  important  Tell  Us Once'  principle,  individual departmental IT systems and strategies should be subject to validation  by  a  central  co- ordinator  to  ensure compatibility.

21

It  is  imperative  that  the Minister  for  Economic Development  secures  the required funding in the next Medium Term Financial Plan to  keep  momentum  behind the  e-government programme.

EDD

Reject

E-government is  a  cross- government initiative  as part  of  the wider  Public Sector  Reform Programme and therefore it is  the responsibility of  ALL Ministers  to secure  the required  level

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

of  funding  to sustain momentum.

22

The  Minister  for  Economic Development  should  ensure that  Digital  Jersey  adds adequate  depth  around general skills development in the  overall  population, including the more vulnerable groups,  to  its  business  plan and strategy.

EDD

Accept

23

There is a need to ensure that the States and Parishes work in unison and with sufficient resources  to  achieve provision  of  the  required community  support  for  e- government, so that it can be successfully  implemented without  creating  a  digital divide.

24

If  not  achieved  already,  the Minister for ES&C will need to provide necessary impetus and  resources  to  make  sure that all schools connect to the fibre  network  now  available to  them  at  the  earliest possible opportunity.