Coding and Robotics will officially be included in the school curriculum for Gr. 8s under Physical, Mathematics, Computer and Life Sciences after it started in 2021 for grades R to 7.

However, as coding has been around for a while, the Department of Basic Education will only officially add it to the school curriculum for Gr. R-3, 4-7, as well as implementing it into schools for Gr. 8 and 9 next year.

South Africa ???? is now the second African nation, following Kenya ????, to implement Coding and Robotics as a subject in primary and junior secondary schools. pic.twitter.com/1CVqrQzqlV

— Africa View Facts (@AfricaViewFacts) June 11, 2024

“I have been teaching youngsters for two years to code and every Saturday when they go on excursions, they learn something new. It’s not only about the coding, it’s about the life skills they learn,” said a coding and robotics tutor in Kimberley, Tumelo Mosikare.

In the Government Gazette published on Friday (7/6), the Department of Basic Education outlined that the subject would be taught to foundation phase learners for one hour a day while intermediate and senior phase learners would be taught for two hours daily.

OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE STATE OF THE ART KIMBERLEY ACADEMY PRIMARY SCHOOL

The Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr. Zamani Saul officially opened the State of the Art Kimberley Academy Primary School in Kimberley today. pic.twitter.com/MJ4KRXdOLw

— NC Dept of Education (@NCape_Education) May 24, 2024

Mosikare also expressed that this subject can assist learners with how to process their emotions, as it's not only about sitting behind a computer and making games, or animations, they learn more about electricity, how different tools work, and how to build robots.

“I believe that coding and robotics should have been added years ago, unfortunately, certain parts of coding require equipment and resources, which most schools don’t have.”

The North West Province has successfully produced three primary schools that advanced to the final stages of the 2024 SITA Robotics challenge, with 80% of pilot schools having a Mathematics lab with interactive boards introduced to learners for coding. pic.twitter.com/qfAWQhGEKn

— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) June 12, 2024

He also believes that this opportunity will be something that children can look forward to, they will come to school because it allows them to experience new things besides the norm.

 OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony cg