I think there //is// a need for training people in the computer skills. In particular (1) system administration and (2) web development. These two skills happen to to be precisely the kind of things you need to learn hands on, and not in a formal education setting (University).

I have put some thoughts into starting a similar program (think hacker space, but with daily lectures and access to a big bookcase of technical literature). Email me if you would like to discuss.

Do you think you can get funding from the city or government to run this? I have some ideas for how such a peer-to-peer educational system could fund itself in the long run, but to get things started you would need some cash.