Learning to code has benefits far greater than being able to create apps or programs. It teaches systems, thinking and logic, as well as problem-solving - all essential life skills in the 21st Century.
This is according to Moirade Roche, learning specialist and independent director at the Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa, speaking to ITWeb about the benefits of implementing coding in school curricula in SA.
"Coding teaches a learner how to think and solve problems. I think kids are more likely to be interested in coding than in some of the other mundane topics they are forced to sit through at school. "
According to a study by the University of Houston, focused around the impact of computer programming on cognitive outcomes, published in the Journal of Educational Computing Research, students with coding knowledge score higher in various cognitive ability tests, illustrating the benefits of coding in improving basic logic in children.
With organisations such as CodeSpace, Code for Africa, WeThinkCode and GirlHype, young people are being exposed to these spheres of learning and given the opportunity to become programmers.
However, from a professional perspective, there is a shortage of competent coders worldwide, says Alan Goldberg, director of education at Digicape, a local premium Apple reseller.
"In the USA alone, there were 520 000 open computing jobs, but only 49 000 computer science graduates in 2015 to fill those jobs. In Europe, it is expected that there will be a shortage of 800 000 computing professionals by 2020.
"Currently, 16 European countries integrate coding into the curriculum and 25% of secondary schools in the US offer computer science courses.
"There are jobs to be filled in programming. From a South African perspective, we're in a very attractive and skilled workforce. There are huge opportunities to provide a skilled workforce to meet these needs, much like is happening in India at the moment.
"When Web development took off in the late 1990s, many South African Web development companies built Web sites for international companies. They had the skills, the drive and were affordable compared to their international counterparts."
Taking coding public
De Rochecomments that schools are seeing more implementation of coding, but it is mainly in private schools that students learn the real value of how this skill-set is brought across by educators.
"I do think the teaching of coding in schools has increased over the years, but it is still the exception rather than the rule. I know it is not policy at theWestern Cape Education Department to implement coding from primary schools.
"There are centres of excellence, mostly in private schools, and their experiences should be used to help the implementation of coding quickly and successfully."
Increasing the number of ICT workers, De Roche adds, is an economic imperative, "People that can create IT products and services can be economically active without necessarily getting formal employment and can sell these globally, thus increasing the country's ability to earn foreign exchange."
The only two computer-based subjects taught in South African high schools are information technology (IT) and computer applications technology (CAT). IT focuses on programming, and CAT teaches the use of Microsoft Word and similar programs.
De Roche highlights the importance of educators and their readiness to teach coding to learners, stating this will determine whether it will be a viable solution in SA.
"Once kids have learned coding in the early grades, they will require less teaching as time goes on. Once they know how to code, it is simply a case of learning a new language, and perhaps more difficult problem-solving, but the concept is the same.
"Again, it is down to the implementation. Teachers must receive the requisite training and be made to understand that teaching coding is as important as teaching math and spelling."
Similarly, Goldberg says coding fosters a collaborative approach to problem-solving at an early age.
Furthermore, universities and colleges need to take a far more agile approach to coding and digital skills, according to Claire Jowell, senior ecosystem manager at Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative.
"Other than your regular BSc in computer science and related degrees, universities do not offer much where coding is concerned."
Jowell believes the curriculum should be led by industry demand and trends, and constantly updated.
"There are so many great online courses out there for those looking to learn coding. We definitely do not need to re-invent the wheel, but rather work to curate valuable content, and build job-readiness and training on top of core skills."
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