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CANADIANS AGREE: Coding education needed in school K-12 curriculums

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2018

CANADIANS AGREE: Coding education needed in school K-12 curriculums; Only 3/13 provinces & territories currently offering it in classrooms

Canada Learning Code releases study of public attitudes of coding and curriculums as the  Council of Ministers of Education, Canada meet in Vancouver July 5-6

TORONTO – Provincial education curriculums need to modernize, or Canada is at risk of being left behind in the global marketplace. That’s the message Canadians are delivering following a study of public attitudes of coding and curriculums in Canada. 91% of Canadians think children learning coding and computer science is important, with 69% supporting getting more of it into classrooms as a part of K-12 school curriculums.

With only 3/13 provinces and territories currently offering limited coding opportunities in their curriculums, parents and aspiring students are forced to turn to out-of-school time programs and providers to learn this crucial skill.

With the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) meeting in British Columbia, now is the time for provinces to catch up with Canadians and implement a modern computer science and coding curriculum throughout the kindergarten to grade 12 curriculum.

The research shows:

  • 69% support and 27% can accept more coding and computer science in classrooms
  • Consistent support across all 10 Canadian provinces (65-72%)
  • Coding is seen as relevant for today (90%) and needed in the future (74%)
  • Canadians believe coding has many benefits:
    1. 80% say it allows you to be creators and consumers of tech
    2. 75% agree it develops new ways of thinking
    3. 72% concur it is a skill that will always be relevant

“Provincial Ministers of Education need to act to get coding and computer science into K-12 curriculums to ensure Canada is positioned to compete in the global economy,” said Melissa Sariffodeen, CEO of Canada Learning Code. “By getting it into the curriculum, Canada can also address the gender and diversity gap that persists throughout STEM fields, so all Canadians can benefit from the opportunities of today’s and tomorrow’s economy.”

Canada Learning Code and Abacus Data polled Canadians to better understand public attitudes towards coding and the curriculum across the country. The research will be used to inform Canada Learning Code’s program offerings to kids, teens, teachers that provide coding education opportunities and strengthens teaching capacity all across Canada.

Melissa Sariffodeen, CEO of Canada Learning Code is available for interviews across Canada.

Click here to download the full Abacus Data Research Report.

Media Contact:
Jamie Ellerton, Conaptus Ltd.
press@canadalearningcode.ca | 416.639.6090

About Canada Learning Code
Canada Learning Code is a leading national charity championing digital literacy education, working nation-wide and across all sectors to equip Canadians with technical skills. To date, the organization has taught over 80,000 learners through an in-person experience, which are offered in over 30 cities across the country.  

Founded as Ladies Learning Code in 2011, the organization has evolved to run programming for adults, youth and educators through programs Ladies, Girls, Kids, Teens and Teachers Learning Code.  Canada Learning Code’s goal is to create 10 million technology learning experiences for Canadians over the next ten years. Technical skills are a tool of empowerment, and it is the organization’s mission to ensure that all Canadians – particularly those who are currently underrepresented in the tech sector – have access to learn these critical skills and be active participants in the digital age.

Twitter: @learningcode
Instagram: @learningcode
Facebook: @canadalearningcode
Website: CanadaLearningCode.ca