Girls and information communication technology (ICT)

[Extract] As in other modern Western societies, Australian businesses, financial institutions,industries and governments have become increasingly reliant on Information Communication Technology's (ICT) capacity to provide effective, operational and cost effective solutions across a rapidly growing array of applications. The ubiquitous and seemingly indispensable nature of ICT in modern societies has spawned a hydra-like industry that is difficult to define and is highly dynamic (Moore, Griffiths & Richardson, 2005). Under such conditions education systems are challenged to maximise congruence between school and tertiary level ICT curricula and the requirements of a highly competitive industry in which change is a constant (Millar & Jagger 2001). The research presented in this chapter investigated declining female participation rates of high school girls in advanced level ICT Board subjects leading to professional career pathways.