Page 16 - Interface April Issue 2025

FUTUREPROOF EDUCATION

Are our schools ready to teach

coding and robotics?

2025 Brings a significant shift in the Robotics when entering the workforce. and Robotics Dictionary, which includes
education system, with the Coding and The Department of Basic Education key terms to help educators, learners,
Robotics curriculum for grades R to 9, has piloted the Coding and Robotics and parents or guardians demystify the
gazetted in June 2024, now entering curriculum in public schools, and teacher language of Coding and Robotics.
classrooms. It presents opportunities for training is already underway.
skills development in this fast expanding Are our schools ready to teach
field and new challenges for educators This is a very positive and vital step the new curriculum?
and learners. towards futureproofing our education There have been concerns about
system. That said, much of our school whether schools without the necessary
“The skills that our country needs, system remains understaffed (according infrastructure, such as computer
the jobs that can grow our economy, to the North West University, the system laboratories, would be able to offer
and importantly, the avenues for lacks around 31,000 teachers) and the subject properly. However, the
entrepreneurship that are so sorely under-resourced (around 85% of schools Foundation Phase curriculum is focused
needed, can best be achieved by are underfunded), begging the question on unplugged coding, eliminating the
increasing learner access to technical of how teachers will a) be trained to need for such facilities or tablets for
and vocational subjects”, President teach Coding and Robotics, and b) how learners. The curriculum aims to develop
Ramaphosa speaking at the January 2023 they will be able to teach this technical computational thinking, critical thinking,
Education Sector Lekgotla. subject to students, especially in rural problem-solving skills, and innovation,
schools. which are fundamental skills that could
The demand for digital skills and literacy help bridge the skills gap in the country
has grown rapidly in most industries To help navigate this new educational and across the continent, equipping
across South Africa, underscoring the landscape, Oxford University Press South learners with competencies for future
need for learners skilled in Coding and Africa has published the Illustrated Coding careers in emerging tech roles.

INTERFACEDigimag | APRIL 2025 | 14