Robotics curriculum for January

Own Correspondent

The South African government will start rolling out a coding and robotics curriculum for Grade R-3 and Grade 7 in January next year.

  Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said they have developed the Grade R-3 coding and robotics curriculum, and the development of Grade 4 to 7 curriculum is at an advanced stage.

   “We are ready for the skills of the future as part of the disruptive fourth industrial revolution. We will be trialling this curriculum starting January 2020 in Grade R-3 and Grade 7. Our teachers are being trained in computer skills, including new teaching areas such as robotics and coding, among others.”

  The department believes the coding and robotics curriculum will develop learners’ ability to “solve problems; think critically; and work collaboratively and creatively; function in a digital and information-driven world; apply digital and ICT skills; and transfer these skills to solve everyday problems”.

  Earlier this year, Motshekga said the University of South Africa (Unisa) agreed to partner with the department by making available 24 ICT laboratories throughout the country for the training of 72 000 teachers in coding.

The DBE is also working with civil society, academic institutions and businesses, such as Africa Teen Geeks.

  With the support of Africa Teen Geeks, Unisa, North West University, ORT South Africa and Globenet, the DBE developed a framework for coding Grade R-9.

  Google, Teen Geeks and other businesses are supporting the department to develop a coding platform that utilises artificial intelligence and machine learning to customise teaching and learning.

  “The rest of the provinces are to be covered in this financial year. These training teams are responsible for the roll-out in their provinces, and are also provided with resources to distribute to all teachers,” Motshekga said.