Wanted: Tech-savvy kids

A new government-backed competition has been launched to discover the most innovative users of IT in the next generation.

The Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (Pitcom) and e-skills UK are looking for projects from primary school students aged nine to 11 which show "initiative and imagination", make good use of the school's ICT resources and fit into the national curriculum.

The best projects will be selected on a regional and national basis to win cash prizes from £1,000 to £3,000.

e-Skills UK CEO Karen Price said technology can harness children's "natural energy and enthusiasm" and help them "make a positive contribution to their world".

Tim Boswell, Conservative MP for Daventry and a member of Pitcom's council, said using IT in primary schools can help children acquire "vital skills for the future".

Entries for the 'Made IT Happen' competition must be submitted by 3 July 2007. More details on submissions can be found here.

silicon.com's CIO Agenda revealed skills shortages are one of the main concerns for IT users this year - in part because there are too few IT graduates coming out of the education system. Our CIO Jury also complained that today's graduates lack fundamental skills such as writing and arithmetic.