Computer science courses should be obligatory, say experts

“Every child has to have good ICT skills,” wrote Giovanni Samaey and Jacques Van Remortel in an op-ed piece for De Standaard, who chaired the working group that generated the report. Samaey is a lecturer at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) and Van Remortel led the research centre at telecoms company Alcatel for several years.

“Youngsters should acquire computational problem-solving skills at school, not just learn how to work with a computer,” they said. Extensive ICT knowledge will also help youngsters to participate in social and ethical discussions around technology, they said.

Currently, specific eindtermen – the final requirements for passing the year – on ICT are only applied in primary education and the first grade of secondary education. But these mostly deal with digital literacy. Only in technical education (TSO) is there a fully developed course on ICT.

Samaey and Van Remortel consider the reform of secondary education as the ideal opportunity to make adjustments and said that teaching studies should be adapted and current teachers trained to handle the subject.

The scientists have explained their vision to Flemish education minister Hilde Crevits and the federal minister of the digital agenda, Alexander De Croo. Crevits told public broadcaster VRT that she will include the request in the debate on eindtermen in parliament this autumn.