IBM backs employees who want to leave to teach

THE LONGTIME champion of education supporting the IT industry, IBM is encouraging its employees to leave to become teachers.

IBM has spent a fortune encouraging little nippers to learn IT skills and calling on the government to make sure there are enough science and maths teachers.

Now IBM says the problem is getting so dire the United States is losing its competitive edge. It will financially back employees who want to leave the company to become math and science teachers.

More than 100 IBM employees will be eligible for the programme in its trial phase.

Some tech companies have been sending their employees to tutor kids, but Big Blue is apparently the first to encourage its staff to switch careers. The workers will be those nearing retirement. They will allowed to take a leave of absence from the company, which includes full benefits and up to half their salary, depending on service.

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