A whole new language
Coding is the literacy of the digital age: more than a useful tool, it has become a whole new language to be spoken fluently by everyone in the 21st century. But learning how to use information technology and understanding how it works are two different things. "The good news is that learning how to code is much more fun and accessible than we think," Julie Cleverdon, director of the Science Centre in Cape Town, insisted. "Coding also contributes to developing a comprehensive range of critical skills for youths to thrive in the 21st-century workplace, from mathematics and problem solving all the way to teamwork and analytical thinking - all in the classroom environment."
Coding is now a significant driver for both the economy and society at large, not to mention a significant growth engine worldwide. With the World Bank expecting 11 million youths to enter the African labour market every year for the next decade, and knowing that many of tomorrow's jobs will be digital, SAP, Simplon.co, the Galway Education Centre and the Cape Town Science Centre joined forces and co-founded the Africa Code Week initiative to start spreading the coding revolution all over Africa as early as 2015.
In preparation for the live Africa Code Week initiative, which will deliver hundreds of coding workshops for 20,000 kids and youths across 11 African countries in October, the Cape Town Science Centre is inviting teachers, families, students, corporations, governments, NGOs, educational institutions and all interested parties to participate in a two-phased pilot event:
Because space is limited, teachers, individuals and parents are invited to register online at CTSC - Africa Code Week or call Leigh on +27 (0)79 258 9611 or +27 (0)21 300 3200.
