I supported the Careers Guidance in Schools bill as I think it's absolutely right that we have independent advice and careers guidance in schools and I fully support all the intentions of the bill.
During their lifetime, most, if not all, young people will experience a period of self-employment, either running a business or contracting their services out. However, the skill set needed for self-employment and entrepreneurship is one that is not taught in most schools. I raised the importance of equipping young people with the skills they need to take the leap and that we also have to more closely align our school core curriculum with the realities of the modern world of work.
Robots, artificial intelligence, and automation are no longer reserved for science fiction movies. Young people must be prepared with creative, collaborative, and digital problem-solving skills for the future. The government is right to recognise computer science as part of the core curriculum, but we must invest more to improve uptake and recruit teachers with the required skills.
