To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on any potential impact of the recently reported decline in the number of computer studies teachers on employment in the technology and digital sectors. (S6O-05060)

We recognise that delivering high-quality computing science education is important to Scotland’s technology and digital economy. Although we do not hold data on the direct link between teacher numbers and employment in the sector, we are taking action to attract more students into teaching computing.

We are funding a pilot at Aberdeen university to support students with relevant higher national diploma qualifications to undertake further study to become computing science teachers. We established Scottish Teachers Advancing Computing Science to support teachers and, by the end of this financial year, we will have invested over £1 million in it. That fulfils key recommendations of Mark Logan’s 2020 “Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review”, which the Government commissioned and which was aimed at improving the talent pipeline for high-growth businesses. We also continue to offer bursaries to career changers to train in hard-to-fill subjects, including computing science.

The right technology and computer skills will be crucial to the future success of Scotland’s economy. That is true for South Lanarkshire, which hosts a great deal of infrastructure that supports the use of artificial intelligence. However, if we mirror the national trend across Scotland, we see that there has been a decline in the number of secondary computing science teachers in South Lanarkshire over the past five years. What is the Scottish Government doing to reverse that worrying and damaging trend?

Mr Russell highlights an important issue for the future of Scotland's technology sector and the future of our society. In my opening remarks, I outlined a number of investments that are taking place to reverse the situation. I will also take this opportunity to commend Skyscanner. Members may have seen the recent news that a number of Skyscanner staff are undertaking teaching qualifications. For part of their week, they work for Skyscanner and for the other part of the week, they are in classrooms, inspiring the next generation of software engineers. That is a first-class, inspirational initiative that has been taken by Skyscanner, and it shows that employers have a role to play as well.

Scotland’s technology sector has more than doubled in size over a 10-year period, so it is going in the right direction. Many of the businesses in the technology sector tell me that they are in Scotland because of the talent pipeline, so they are able to find the talent. However, the member is quite right that the measures that I outlined in my initial answer are extremely important for ensuring that we have more computing science teachers in Scotland’s schools.

The Minister will be aware that, in 2022, the Scottish Government invested £1.3 million in refreshing computing science for pupils. Can the minister provide the Parliament with an update on the funding and on what progress it has supported so far?

The member is correct: in 2022, we made available £1.3 million for schools to bid for additional equipment to transform their teaching of computing science with updated physical computing devices and all the resources that have to go with that, giving them the flexibility to choose equipment that would best suit their needs. I am proud to say that that funding has supported 304 secondary schools across Scotland. Much more needs to be done, but I hope that that gives the member some examples of the progress that has been made.

Davy Russell is right to raise a serious issue about the decline in computing science teachers. It is an issue that we have known about for years. I welcome the measures that the Minister has set out; whether they will arrest the decline, we will have to wait and see. Is the minister open to more innovative ideas—for example, looking at potentially paying higher salaries to attract teachers into computer science and other hard-to-fill areas of teaching—given its importance to the needs of our future economy?

It is important that ministers always remain open to new, innovative ideas. The member highlights some potential ways forward. I have referred to the fact that we have already given some extra bursaries to those who want to change their careers, to encourage people to come into teaching computing science and some other subjects.

In the past, we have looked at innovations; going forward, it is important that we stick to the principle that we are always looking for innovative ideas to address what, as the member says, is an important issue for the future of Scotland’s economy and our society.