26 January 2006

School pupils who regularly use computers have been found to perform at a higher standard in key subjects than those less familiar with computing.

Performance in mathematics was particularly affected by pupils' computer skills, with those who had regularly used computers for the last few years performing better than average.

OECD (Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development) came to these conclusions after surveying the computing habits of the average 15-year-old in its 20 member countries.

In a study called "Are students ready for a technology-rich world?" it found that although access to computers in schools is almost universal, school pupils are more likely to use their home computers on a more frequent basis.

An average of three out of four students use their home computers several times every week, compared to only 44 per cent who frequently use computers at school.

In particular, Germany had just 23 per cent of its students regularly using computers in the classroom, making it the country with lowest proportion of users in the whole of the OECD group.

Yet, it had the highest percentage of home computer users, with 82 per cent saying they regularly used their laptop or PC after school.

The survey also found that girls tended to use computers less frequently than boys, particularly when it came to more complicated uses such as programming.

Teenagers in Greece, Mexico, Poland, Slovakia and Turkey were the most unlikely to have access to computers in their home.

© Adfero Ltd

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