Kwara State government has commenced a free summer digital coding class for students of public secondary schools across the state.
The special assistant to the state governor on digital innovation, Hon. Kayode Ishola, said the summer coding class, which started on Monday, will equip the students with digital skills to compete with their global counterparts.
Designed to run for six weeks, the programme is taking place across six centres in the state’s three senatorial districts, with students between the ages of 11 and 15 as participants.
At the flag off ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, Ilorin, Ishola said the state government is encouraging mass digital literacy among the youths so that they will be included in the digital age.
“The government understands that for the students to have a competitive edge globally, they need digital skills, especially now that external examinations like JAMB, WAEC and NECO are computer based.
“The programme will be run for six weeks; the first two weeks will focus on an introduction to digital literacy, particularly for kids that do not have much background in hands-on use of the computers, while the remaining period will be used for coding and other digital skills,” he said.
Other centres for the training are Government Secondary School, Afon (Kwara Central); Ansarul Islam Junior Secondary School (Gure, Baruten) and Etsu Maman Saba Junior Secondary School Batapan (North); and Government Secondary School Omu- Aran, and Offa Grammar School, Offa (South).
