Coding Pilot Project Begins Next Week In 100 Primary & 50 Secondary Schools.
The government will pilot the implementation of computer coding curriculum support material in public primary and secondary schools beginning next week as part of the Digital Literacy Programme.
The process of converting human intentions into commands that computers can understand is known as coding. The lessons will be delivered to students via an interactive online studio.
The pilot project will include 100 public primary and 50 public secondary schools chosen from across the country by the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Authority.
The ICT Authority and the Ministry of Education have chosen the first batch of 150 public schools where the coding content will be deployed as part of the piloting process before being rolled out to over 22,000 public schools.
“Adding coding to the school curriculum will enhance students’ technological skills and put them on the scope in the ever-growing world of technology. The real work we want to do is to prepare students for the job market,” said Mr. Mugumo during a media breakfast at the Nairobi hotel yesterday.
“In the next 3-5 years, at least 55 percent of all jobs in Kenya will require digital skills as employers are seeking a productive workforce that is digitally skilled,” he continued.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development has already approved the curriculum support material (KICD).
According to KICD Chief Executive Officer Charles Ong’ondo, Kenya is the first country in Africa to achieve this important educational milestone of fast-tracking coding lessons in the education system.
Earlier, Kipronoh Ronoh, CEO of the ICT Authority, stated that the government has already distributed over 1.2 million laptops across the country in support of the Digital Literacy Programme.
“We have already distributed more than 1.2 million laptops for learners in public schools and teacher devices in the country as well as connected electricity to more than 22,000 schools. With this infrastructure in place, we will be able to fully support the implementation of the program,” said Dr. Ronoh.
He said Kenya leads Africa in digital literacy. Kenya has two factories that manufacture digital devices. With digital literacy, he believes the nation is preparing young learners to be digital architects, allowing them to be producers rather than just consumers.
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The release of the coding curriculum support material coincides with the release of the Kenya National Digital Master Plan 2022-2032, which is a blueprint for leveraging and deepening the contribution of the ICT sector to accelerate socio-economic growth.
Irene Githinji, Programme Manager, Student, and Education Engagements at Microsoft Africa Development Centre stated that the promotion of coding, which is a significant subject in the study of computer science and the digital world.
According to the Programme Manager, students who learn and understand coding have the advantage of becoming full participants – rather than just observers – in a heavily computerized and digitized world.
“The beauty of understanding how digitization and connectivity works mean that our children will have an opportunity to compete for job opportunities beyond boundaries without necessarily having to travel there in the world of remote working.”
Coding Pilot Project Begins Next Week In 100 Primary & 50 Secondary Schools
