The Government to Invest Millions on Programming in Schools
The Government to Invest Millions on Programming in Schools

The Government to Invest Millions on Programming in Schools

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Yesterday Simula along with OsloMet and the University of Oslo held a seminar to discuss computer programming in Norwegian schools. While it has been decided that programming should be introduced in many subjects from 2020, several challenges lay ahead. Are the schools prepared? Are the teachers ready? And what about the universities and colleges that educates teachers? These were some of the topics that were up for discussion.

Opening the seminar was the Minister of Education and Innovation Jan Tore Sanner. The Minister discussed the current governments ambition and commitment to computer programmingin Norwegian schools. Sanner revealed that the government will grant 90 million NOK annually over the next 5 years to help students gain knowledge and understanding of technology, algorithmic thinking, programming and access to good digital learning resources.

Additional speakers included professionals from UiO, OsloMet, the Directorate for Education and a primary school counselor from Bærum Municipality. The speakers discussed topics such as why we should learn programming, programming at the educational level, what the current situation is and challenges.Students from Gjettum Ungdomsskole in Bærum and Oslo Handelsgymnasium shared their experiences with learning programming at their school.

The seminar was concluded with a panel discussion with Marianne Aasen (Simula), Nina Waaler (OsloMet), Cathrine Tellefsen (Center for Computing in Science Education, UiO)and members of Parliament Torstein Tvedt Solberg (Labour Party) and Turid Kristensen (Conservative Party). Both Tvedt Solberg and Kristensen are members of the Standing Committee on Education and Research.