It looks like our kids could be adding coding to their list of primary school subjects.
Curriculum advisers have been asked by Education Minister Richard Bruton to look into ways of including coding in the primary school’s curriculum.
Currently both primary and secondary schools in Ireland do not include computer programming in their list of subjects which is said to be linked to the drop-out rates in computing courses when students reach third level.
In September that is due to change as secondary schools will be introducing coding as an option for students, the popularity of which is due to increase as more trained teachers become available.
Curriculum advisers, NCCA are now investigating ways of introducing the subject at primary school level.
It is all part of Minister Bruton’s review of the primary curriculum which also includes reform in the way maths in taught to junior infants up to second class.
In a letter to NCCA chief executive, Dr Anne Looney, Minister Bruton highlighted the importance of computing skills.
“I am acutely conscious that we need to give all children the best start in a world where such skills will be key to participation and success.”
Computer science has recently been approved by the NCCA as a Leaving Certificate subject and they have begun developing the programme.
