Singapore – In the digital era, coding is an essential tool and language that provides a competitive advantage.
On July 10 (Wednesday), Minister for Communications and Information, S Iswaran, announced an initiative that aims to give students of Singapore this edge in a digital world.
The minister revealed the programme called Code for Fun (CFF) which is a 10-hour enrichment programme that teaches students core computational and coding concepts through simple visual programming-based lessons.
Announced during the Ministry’s Workplan Seminar 2019, the programme is a part of the Government’s endeavours to boost a “Digital Singapore.” The course will be conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and will begin by 2020 at all primary schools.
The CFF was first launched in 2014 as an optional programme for some 93,000 students. It will also be continued at the secondary level alongside the current curriculum of computing subjects at O Level (elective) and A Level.
According to the IMDA, the programme will include “academic learning of related concepts using visual-based programming language, such as Scratch, and combining it with robotic kits, such as Lego WeDo, MoWay, and microcontrollers, such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi, to create a coding experience for the student.”
Our Digital Singapore
At the beginning of his speech, Minister Iswaran mentioned some the “significant work” completed within Singapore, such as the transition from analogue free-to-air signals to Digital TV.
The Committee of Inquiry (COI) has also concluded its work on the Cyber Attack on SingHealth’s Patient Database, said the minister.
“On the international front, we unveiled the Model AI Governance Framework at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos which is a framework intended to guide businesses in the adoption and use of Artificial Intelligence in their operations,” said Minister Iswaran.
“So, it has been an eventful year, said the minister. “Looking ahead, two key issues loom large.”
He noted the trade tension between the US and China and the rapid advancement of technology and its impact on industries and jobs.
Regarding these issues, the minister said that “we have to be able to respond to unanticipated twists and also seize unexpected opportunities as we move forward.”
“Digitalisation is here to stay, and we must accept and adapt to this new reality.”
Taking cues from other countries such as China and her tech companies and advancements, the MCI, with the support of the Government and the country, aims to build a digital economy where every business is digitally empowered, every worker is digitally skilled, and every citizen is digitally connected. This is our overall vision for an inclusive digital Singapore that brings benefits for all Singaporeans.”
Read the full speech here or watch the video below:
https://www.facebook.com/SingaporeMCI/videos/435155584002136/