Gatchalian wants software coding taught in basic education

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. PHOTO FROM THE OFFICE OF SENATOR SHERWIN GATCHALIAN

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is calling on the Department of Education (DepEd) to include computer coding in the country’s basic education curriculum, saying that digital literacy should be taught to students at a young age.

“In order to produce digital-savvy graduates who will be equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in the modern world, we must start training our students in coding and other computer skills at an early age,” he said in a statement on Monday.

The senator, vice chair of the Senate committee on education, said that adding coding in the curriculum would allow students to learn modern skills that could be used in their future careers.

He said that computer and information science could be taught even to those in kinder and elementary school.

“It is never too early to introduce computer science concepts to our school children,” he said.

Gatchalian, meanwhile, lauded the DepEd for ensuring the full implementation of an inclusive literacy program, which he said included literacy on information and computer technology.

“I believe digital literacy can elevate the educational competencies of our students and economic competitiveness of our country, but the key is to start them young,” he said.

“We need to institutionalize advanced digital literacy training in our schools from an early age,” he said. /cbb

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