A story in a recent issue of Computing  (Decline in IT students threatens UK success) attracted my attention. I suspect there are two reasons for this decline.

A large number of people consider themselves experts because they use Microsoft packages, have set up a basic home network and surf the net. Twenty years ago many people serviced their own cars but beyond the basics this has now much declined. The oft-cited reason is that modern cars are more complex with computer-controlled engine management systems. Odd, considering everybody is an "expert".

The message has to be put across that the IT profession requires genuine experts, therefore the people will become professionals. Here we hit the next problem.

Youngsters see their and their friends' fathers being put out to pasture in their mid-40s, yet the government claims there is a skills shortage. Some degree of updating and retraining may be
required but there is no skills shortage, just ageism.

Why the IT industry behaves in this way when other professions such as law, accountancy and medicine do not is inexplicable. If I were in my 20s I do not think I would move over to IT.

David Clark