Teaching Tech Early: Should Coding Be a School Subject?

I remember when I was opened to the world of tech; it was fascinating and broad. There is so much to learn and so much to do that can change the world; all we need are ideas and bringing those ideas to life. At that point, I ask myself, "Why not teach this in school so people can know which path they want to take from a young age?"

You agree with me, right? Exactly what I was thinking. Why not? It was then I realized that tech is something that has not been integrated properly into our everyday lives, not to mention the educational aspects. But one good thing about it is that we have come to the knowledge of it and we are getting there soon.

Welcome to my blog. My name is fashtioluwa and today we will be discussing another amazing topic given to us by the Hivelearners community, which says, "Should coding and programming be made compulsory in schools because of how important it is in our current-day world?"

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Now the argument is, won't it be better for a child to have a basic knowledge of coding and programming before they can decide the field and path they want to go?

Well, I'll make this blog short because I want to go straight to the point. You see, making coding and programming compulsory in schools because of how vast it is in our current world is like saying other important things like photography, fashion, painting, sports, and so on should be made compulsory in schools.

But let’s pause and think for a moment: what makes coding stand out? The truth is, the world is moving fast, and almost everything around us now involves some level of technology. From the apps we use daily to the websites we visit, the smart devices in our homes, and even the cars we drive—someone had to write the code that powers them. So while not everyone might end up a software engineer, just like not everyone becomes a professional artist or athlete, a basic knowledge of coding can still give you an edge. It teaches you how to think logically, solve problems creatively, and understand how the digital world works.

However, making it compulsory is where the debate begins. Should we force every child to learn how to code even if they have no interest in it?

Won't it be better for them to choose what they want to be after presenting all the opportunities that can make them successful and exceptional? Let them write their first line of code, design their first mini website, or even build a small game. Then, from there, they can decide whether to go further or not. The goal is to plant the seed early enough, not to force it down their throats.

Thanks for reading. My name is Fashtioluwa.

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