HELSINKI — Elementary school students in Finland could be adding coding and programming to their nightly homework routine in the near future.
Potentially following in the footsteps of neighboring country Estonia, Alexander Stubb — the Finnish Minister of European Affairs and Foreign Trade — told Mashable that teaching basic programming skills to young kids in the classroom is on the country’s radar.
“It would be a great idea to have coding as a voluntary or otherwise subject in school,” Stubb says. “Kids today are growing up as natives to technology, and the sooner they get going, the better. It starts with games and familiarizing themselves with gadgets, and coding is a big part of that.”
This doesn’t necessarily mean first-graders will be developing apps. Rather, it’s part of an effort to encourage the development of tech skills at an early age. This doesn’t necessarily mean first-graders will be developing apps. Rather, it’s part of an effort to encourage the development of tech skills at an early age.
via Finland Eyes Programming Classes for Elementary School Students.