Tech Carnival helps nearly 20,000 rural students in China acquire a new set of skills for the future

Situation

Developing the digital skills of young people in China #itstime

Preparing a workforce for the future has its challenges. Not only is the pace of technological change rapid but estimates state that 3.7 billion people have no internet access¹ which is the first stepping stone to building vital digital skills in a report by PwC and UNICEF, in support of Generation Unlimited - Stepping Forward. The report also shows that three out of four students who cannot be reached by remote-learning options (including radio, television and internet) come from rural areas and or poor households.

The third element for young people to develop digital skills, as per the Stepping Forward report - is digital literacy, which is the basic skills and knowledge to participate online. The pandemic has highlighted the universal need to assist the next generation with developing digital skills by the urgent switch to online learning.

PwC China has been focused on investing in education for more than a decade, and they continue to expand the scale and reach of education initiatives in line with PwC’s New world. New skills. upskilling initiative, prioritising programmes that equip children and youth with the digital skills they will need to thrive in the workforce of the future.

_{Image source: Adream Foundation}

Impact

Tech Carnival =  an inclusive way for everyone to jump aboard the digital upskilling ride #togetherwesolve

Due to the conditions created by the pandemic, PwC China’s volunteers were not able to attend the schools or activities in person, however, they were able to present and provide content for the introductory technology videos as well as help analyse and rate the students' work to test what they had learned after watching the videos.

The Tech Carnival was delivered in three parts, each designed to help expand the skills, knowledge and access to upskilling:

1. Teacher Training where at least ten teachers from each of the 22 participating schools were hosted at  a full day’s training session outlining the programme content, objective and mission.
2. Campus Carnival has so far been delivered to nearly 20,000 students aged 8-13 years old focused on expanding the children’s knowledge of digital, environmental and creative problem solving.
3. Makers Camp where a select group of 28 students were nominated by their schools to help further their critical thinking and problem solving skills with another training organisation.  

_{¹Weforum.org., D. Broom, April 2020. Coronavirus has exposed the digital divide like never before.}