Dr. Cornelia Connolly:

There is a shortage of teachers in computer science education globally. We have to think creatively around how to upskill teachers. There is a very successful professional diploma for mathematics teaching, which is ongoing over recent years through University of Limerick and University of Galway. Offering a similar programme to those teachers in our system to upskill and become qualified computer science teachers would be an easy win. We need, however, to incentivise people into computer science education and encourage more into the education space. The internship programmes for student teachers is an obvious choice, as is expanding and showing the range of skills possible within computer science education.

We must also be conscious of the learning pathway. It is very difficult for students to select computer science or a STEM teacher education programme coming from their leaving certificate if they have not studied the subject in secondary school themselves. There are many variables or little challenges we have to overcome.