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Finland to introduce computer programming in primary schools

Xinhua, February 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Finland is planning to add a computer coding course to the core curriculum of its elementary schools as from early 2016, reported Finnish national broadcaster Yle on Friday.

The broadcasting company said the Finnish education ministry was going to integrate computer programming into the core curriculum at comprehensive schools based on the results of pilot projects started in the country this year at the primary school level.

Some primary schools in Finland have already started arranging coding courses for 10 to 12-year-old children this year, in cooperation with IT companies and industrial organizations.

The education ministry said it would continue to cooperate with IT firms to provide coding courses, as teachers' ability to teach computer programming is currently limited.

As the world increasingly becomes digitized, and coding becomes a key competence of the future workforce, more and more European countries are considering adding coding courses in schools.

At present, seven EU countries including Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria, Estonia and Lithuania have set up computer programming as a stand-alone subject in their primary and middle schools. Endit