Scottish Borders Local Association

TCS turns out to be worst of all worlds

Published Date: 21 May 2009

Letters to the editor

I was shocked to read that Selkirk High School will no longer be giving its pupils the opportunity to achieve formal computer studies qualifications.

As a parent of one of the many former pupils who have gone on to establish good careers in the computer technology field, thanks to the excellent teaching they received at SHS, I find it inexplicable that the school is taking this retrograde step. The argument is, I understand, that a formal qualification in the subject is unnecessary to go on to do the subject at university.

Our “small-town” kids already face a big challenge leaving home to study in the big-city universities without also having to play catch up with those who already have the necessary grounding the formal study of the subject would give them.

Teenagers may all be computer literate now, but there is a vast difference between sending emails or going on Facebook, and understanding programming and the complexities of advancing computer technology.

I hope the school will think again and that the parents of current pupils wishing to continue their studies mount a successful campaign to change this decision.

Linda Farrell

The Glebe

Selkirk

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