GOVERNMENT SPOOK AGENCY GCHQ has released a cryptography game for kids in an attempt to boost science, technology, engineering and maths skills. <\/p>\n
The government, and a lot of other people, are all about the so-called STEM skills, and we have already seen the Raspberry Pi Foundation make a spacy stand on it. <\/p>\n
Now it is the turn of GCHQ, which in itself is following a government pattern of pre-teen prep practice. <\/p>\n
GCHQ told us that it is releasing Cryptoy to the application stores on the third anniversary of the government's National Cyber Security Strategy. <\/p>\n
The title is pitched at secondary students and their teachers, and offers an insight into encryption and cryptography. <\/p>\n
This is not the first effort from the agency, and is unlikely to be its last. It has an interest in cryptography, and an interest in having a pool of skilled workers coming out of the education system. <\/p>\n
\"Building maths and cyber skills in the younger generation is essential for maintaining the cyber security of the UK and growing a vibrant digital economy,\" said GCHQ director Robert Hannigan. <\/p>\n
\"That is why I am keen for GCHQ to give something back through its work with school and universities. <\/p>\n
\"The app was developed by GCHQ's industrial placement students and trialled at a number of science fairs. <\/p>\n
\"I hope it will inspire further study of this key topic, which has played such an important part in our past and is an invaluable part of our future.\" <\/p>\n
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