Cynon AM welcomes drive to connect Cynon Valley pupils with coding

Vikki Howells, Assembly Member for Cynon Valley, is pleased to support an innovative Welsh Government drive to increase understanding of coding in Welsh schools.  The Welsh Labour Government have announced significant funding, aimed at giving pupils in Wales access to training in the latest technology.

The announcement meets a pledge in last year’s Welsh Labour Manifesto and is more evidence of Welsh Labour acting quickly to meet their promises.

Vikki Howells AM said:

“This is about equipping future generations with the skills that will help them compete in a global market and will hugely benefit pupils in the Cynon Valley. As a former teacher and from visiting schools in my constituency I am aware that technology is playing an increasing role in the classroom. This is truly 21st century technology and I agree with the Welsh Labour Government that Wales has to be at the forefront.”

“We live in an increasingly digital world and we cannot ignore predictions that there will be 100,000 coding jobs by 2020.  I, like the Welsh Government want Wales to host as many of these jobs as possible.”

“This is yet another positive example of this hard working Welsh Labour Government delivering on pledges that I and others stood on last year.”

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Notes:

Computer code is a set of rules or instructions that makes it possible to create computer software, apps and websites. It is a means by which learners can transition from being users to becoming authors of technology.

The Welsh Government aims to expand Code Clubs in every part of Wales.

Approximately 300 clubs currently exist across the country and the Welsh Labour Government wants all pupils to have the opportunity to learn about and get involved in coding as the importance of digital skills continues to grow.

There are currently around 1.5 million jobs in the digital sector in the UK, 400,000 of which involve coding. It is estimated that there will be 100,000 new coding jobs by 2020.

The new plan to expand Code Clubs in Wales – ‘Cracking the code’, aims to:

• Raise awareness and highlight the benefits of Code Clubs to teachers, pupils and parents;
• Break down barriers to participation in code clubs;
• Broker and facilitate coding experiences with business and industry.

The plan will have a specific focus on encouraging stronger relationships between business, industry and the third sector to support the development of coding skills.

The plan will focus on:

• Encourage parents to get involved in coding and the development of digital skills;
• Welsh medium support and resources;
• Getting more girls interested in coding and technology.

 

A number of local, national and international partners have agreed to work with Welsh Government to support the delivery of the plan. They include Code Club UK, Microsoft Education, Sony UK Technology Centre, BAFTA, Big Learning Company, British Council, BT, Barefoot Computing, Computing at school (CAS), Coleg Meirion Dwyfor, Raspberry Pi Foundation, the RAF, Technocamps, and Universities in Wales.