John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the schools nationally that run voluntary coding programmes through initiatives such as an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3271/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is aware that a large number of schools are running voluntary coding programmes through initiatives such as Coder Dojo (which has over 200 “dojos” in Ireland), Hour of Code, where over 200 events took place in Ireland, and the annual computer programming Olympiad held at Dublin City University.

However, decisions to participate in such initiatives are decided by individual schools and are not recorded by my Department.

My Department's STEM Education Policy Statement and Implementation Plan, published in November 2017, highlights the importance of voluntary and informal programmes such as Coder Dojo and include actions to identify methods to more formally recognise student participation in such programmes. At Junior Cycle, it will be now be possible to record such participation as part of the 'Other Areas of Learning' section of the new Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement. Schools are also now able at Junior Cycle to offer a coding short course as part of their junior cycle programme.

Currently my Department's PDST Technology in Education service provides training for both primary and post primary teachers in ICT which includes 'Scratch' coding. Some 5,800 teachers received ICT training in 2016.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently developing a new primary mathematics curriculum which will include elements of creative and computational thinking, which underpin coding and computer science. The NCCA will also be working with a network of schools during this school year to explore different approaches to integrating coding in the primary curriculum.

Additionally, I am introducing Computer Science as an optional Leaving Certificate subject. 40 schools were selected for Phase 1 implementation of the new subject from September of this year.