23 Jul 2017

More than 400 teachers have been trained in computer coding through train-the-trainer sessions in preparation for SAP Africa Code Week which will take place across 35 African countries from October 18 to 25.

Speaking at the official launch of Africa Code Week train-the-trainer workshop recently, Minister of Basic Education, Dr Unity Dow said Information and Communications Technology was the future, adding “and if we don’t catch up today, we will remain forever behind.”

Teachers, Dr Dow said, needed to re-look at the traditional methods of teaching where teaching and learning only happened within the four walls of a classroom and stopped immediately when school ended.

She said in today’s digital world, coding was a fundamental skill among children as it allowed them to be fluent in the 21^st century language.

Dr Dow added that it was important for teachers and learners to continuously improve their teaching and learning skills  in order to approach learning differently for better results.

“Teaching and learning should continue even beyond the four walls of the classroom. No government can do it alone and no teacher must try to do it alone,” she added.

She said the Ministry of Basic Education, along with its partner SAP, endorsed the Africa Code Week to improve coding literacy nationwide by training more than 400 teachers through a series of train-the-trainer workshops.

She added that teachers were expected to teach basic coding skills to pupils using the scratch a coding education programme designed by the MIT media laboratory to simplify coding for the young generation.

In his welcome remarks, Ngwana Enterprises chief executive officer and implementing partner of Africa Code Week in Botswana, Mr Mooketsi Tekere said through the initiative “we have seen that there is a need to re-invent and bring a relevant education system that is digital to promote the development of digital education in Botswana.”

“Through this initiative that we are launching today, we are hoping to inspire children in our schools to learn how to write their first line of code because coding has become a language that every child has to learn. It is the language of the future,” he added.

Founded in 2015, Africa Code Week is returning to the continent for the third time with the goal to empower 500 000 young Africans with coding skills through hands-on, playful learning.

For her part, SAP general business and partner operations for Africa director, Ms Tracy Bolton said the young generation was holding the unprecedented key, “not just only for their future, but for the future of the entire world.” ENDS