Coding Becomes Core in School Curriculums

Editorials News | Jul-16-2024

Coding Becomes Core in School Curriculums

In the last few years education has shifted dramatically in many countries, especially in the implementation of programming and coding into schools. Continuing the evolution of societies towards the digital world requires people who can read and create programs just like it is necessary to study such fundamental disciplines as mathematics or natural science. This is not some sort of short-lived phenomenon but a calculated desire by the educators and the policymakers intent on growing the next generation for a future where technology is king.

Role that Coding Plays in the Modern Society:

Coding, a language viewed by many as the language of the future, is fast becoming the language of the present and is not limited to computer scientists and software engineers in a world that has become a global village whereby technology is a part of our daily lives knowing how software and digital systems work is invaluable. Coding proves useful for enhancing problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and innovative skills, which are quite essential in almost all forms of working environment.

Also, with the increasing announcement of automation and artificial intelligence, many of the traditional jobs are changing or becoming obsolete. Many of the emerging professions, especially in the technological and digital industries, involve the basic knowledge of coding. The current generation of students is being given the fighting chance in future jobs through the teaching of coding at a tender age.

Trending of Coding Education Around the World:

Today, governments of countries all over the world understand that coding should be introduced into schools, and they start making the necessary amendments to curriculum. For instance, some states in the United States are integrating coding at the earlier ranges of education, including the kindergarten level. In England, programming has been a core part of the computing curriculum in schools since 2014, when students starting at the age of five years began to learn simple aspects of coding.

India, too, has followed this trend. The latest policy regarding the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 also envisioned coding to be implemented in the school system. The policy’s goal is to avoid having our students be simply recipients of technology but, at the same time, being users, inventors, and developers of technology. Most schools in the country have begun to incorporate coding in schools and the positive impacts have begun to be observed.

Advantages of Coding for Kids:

Engaging children in coding has many advantages not only because it will help them prepare for future jobs. Works proved that coding could make a positive impact on cognitive processes, including problem-solving, analysis, and memory, among other skills. It also develops creativity since students can look for ways on how to solve new problems and come up with new solutions and ideas.

In addition, coding encourages teamwork and teamwork alone since it is a collaborative effort. A number of coding projects involve students undertaking a collective assignment or activity wherein the students learn from each other. Such a setting is beneficial in helping student to improve their communication skills and appreciate the need to work in groups.

Future Prospects of Transformation and State of Matters:

Though there are efforts of introducing coding into school curriculums, it is not without several problems. The biggest challenge is that there are few qualified teachers who can teach coding in the first place. Currently, a vast number of teachers themselves do not have adequate coding skills in order for them to effectively educate students about the same.

In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to pay attention to school, teachers, and students and to focus on the need for teachers’ training and support. It is, therefore, the responsibility of governments, education institutions as well as private organizations to ensure that a pool of qualified teachers who are capable of imparting these skills to the learners is available and empowered.

One difficulty is to guarantee that each learner can have fun with coding lessons without matters of social status interfering. Although computer literacy is considered important in many regions of the world, owning computers and having internet connections is still a privilege in many parts especially in the rural areas and in the underprivileged. This is the reason why it is mandatory that this digital divide be closed to avoid any child being left behind with the digital revolution.

Another weakness is that coding education must reach all learners irrespective of their economic status in the society. Computer literacy and opportunities to use internet connections are still a luxury in several regions of the world, especially in the countryside or low-income regions. This has created a need for a policy that will help to close the digital gap so that children should not be left behind in this new age of technology.

In conclusion, This means that the integration of coding in schools is a very important step in having students ready for the future, where technology is an essential aspect of nearly all careers. As much as there are barriers, the advantage of introducing early coding education is way higher than the mentioned barriers. Coding, therefore, does not merely assist students prepare for the next employment opportunities but empowers them to be future creators, analysts, and managers.

With coding now being introduced in schools, it is important that teachers are backed up, resources are available, and every learner is fostered in coding strategy. Thus, we are not only creating a workforce of the future but are also creating the future of the future.

By : Parth Yadav
Anand School of Excellence

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