Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education to discuss ICT education with representatives from Coderdojo

The Committee will also discuss initiatives to place computer programming languages, coding and web development on the curriculum at second level.

Chairman of the Committee Deputy Damien English said: “Coderdojo is a not-for-profit network of computer clubs or dojos aimed at teaching children and teenagers to write computer code.  The project, which is the brainchild of XING co-founder Bill Liao and young technology entrepreneur James Whelton, is an initiative aimed at fostering coding talent in Irish school children and creating an environment where youths can learn coding skills from one another and learn from an evolving syllabus of computer languages.

We are really looking forward to this meeting. Coderdojo is an exciting initiative aimed at fostering a greater knowledge of ICT and empowering a new generation of young people in computer coding which will be key to Ireland developing a knowledge-based economy.

While Ireland has been very successful in attracting major computer, software and social media companies such as Google, Facebook and Microsoft, concerns have been raised over the numbers of young people taking maths and science subjects and having the requisite ICT skills to fill the jobs being created by these companies. This issue will have to be tackled if we are serious about building a knowledge economy.

Tomorrow’s meeting will provide us with an opportunity to get young people’s views on initiatives to enhance the teaching of ICT at primary and post primary level and to place computer programming languages, coding and web development on the curriculum at second level.”

This meeting will take place on Wednesday, 7th December in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000 at 9.30am.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education

Membership

Damien English, TD (Chairman)
Ray Butler, TD
Áine Collins, TD
Joan Collins, TD
Michael Conaghan, TD
Barry Cowen, TD
Seán Crowe, TD
Tom Fleming, TD
Brendan Griffin, TD
John Halligan, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Anthony Lawlor, TD
John Lyons, TD
Nicky McFadden, TD
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, TD
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, TD
Willie O’Dea, TD
Brendan Ryan, TD
Brendan Smith, TD
Peadar Tóibín, TD

Senators

Deirdre Clune,
John Kelly,
Michael Mullins,
Marie Louise O’Donnell,
Averil Power,
Feargal Quinn