Should Computer Programming Be A Mandatory Subject In Schools?

No need for the kids.But it should be taught from high school level.

It should be left to the children to decide, since more than programming skills there logical and analytics skills should be developed,it is more important for development pf computer applications

this will just kill other interests of students.
What are they are going to with programming skills if a kid have interest in arts?
I don't think programming skill is a subject which nurture a kid like other subject history, geography , Lingual or maths does.
If any person doesn't know a bit programming language no one cares about if you are not a professional in Computer field but that person don't know general maths thats make them a moron.

Now a days IDE and plugins are so easy that any adult with some general computer knowledge can do some programming , build website or work on any programming language like art specific language #-Link-Snipped-#.

May be, they are afraid outsourcing....

We already teach kids subjects that they don't remember. For example, I don't remember geography, nor do I remember history as it was taught. The history I remember is through the stories that my grandpa told me during casual conversations with him.

Teaching programming might make kids take on the Internet in coming years. India still has not been able to produce its own Facebook or Google.

Well India is yet to make a software for BFSI Sector,anyway before depression there was an IT boom were computer institute mushroomed and people from all sector jumped into it , which detiorated quality of work.
Secondly, our society does not encourage use to invent,irony is basis of digital world "0" is greatest gift from india to the world

The_Big_KWe already teach kids subjects that they don't remember. For example, I don't remember geography, nor do I remember history as it was taught.

Are you sure you do not remember history or geography taught in school days?

Lets take a test...
1. Do you remember any of the mugal emperor name? can you name 4 (You must have learned that in schools only)
2. know about Jhansi ki Rani, Veer Shivaji, Ashoka.. battle of 1947, 1857...anything?
3. how many continents are there in the world, where is Antarctica.. ?

I know you can answer all of them, as you have learned them somewhere during your school days.

No offense means,

Just wanted to show that whatever we learned during school days, we can not forget it's just we do not use some of the things quite often so we feels like we do not remember them anymore.

Coming to the topic, I am in conditional support of that (learning something new is always good, atleast for kids) - conditionally - we should not mold students in a direction that they need to be a programmer ONLY.

-CB

Definitely the high school students should be given this as an option in a way similar to elective subjects that engineers have for engineering. Whoever is interested in learning computer programming should pursue it..😒

Teaching history doesn't make kids historians. Teaching them programming won't make them programmars. Plus, I believe kids should be taught programming from the time they're in school. It shouldn't end.

Plus, history & geography are forgotten because it was all theory and no practicals.

I am all for such idea.
When you can teach complexities of 'spoke' langauage at an early age, why not introduce them to computer programming languages too. There are many languages which help kids to understand coding. For exmaple -ALICE langauge.
Neverthless, Ideally school introduces various disciplines in which kids might develop interest in. Show them the flavour of various feilds and help them choose their area of specialisation in later stages of life.So yes! bring it on!!!

My main reason to support this is that programming builds logical abilities. You've to 'think' logically before you can build a program. Sadly, most of the school subjects are mug-up-and-reproduce types. Math and logical abilities are more than needed in Indian schools. I think it can help in other areas as well. ​

If you mean to introduce to programming just like drawing and craft, then it is ok !!! however it should be made compulsory, after a certain age it should be optional.

In India, rural areas are there where kids get computers at their homes only when they enter high school. Some parents find it difficult even for that. We are not talking about those who have computers here. However, we're still talking about Students in India - so there are practical difficulties in some locations. There are hi-tech schools in very few locations only.

Teaching students programming at a younger age (below 13 yrs) would be like teaching a kid how to cook. Internet is not suitable for kids below 13, so programming languages like java, html, etc can be introduced at High School level - or else a working experience would be hard to establish. But the opportunity to learn Photoshop, Flash, Video-Editing, Photography, Sound Mixing and develop skills like Blogging, should be promoted more from High-School level itself. When a passion is built within the kid, he/she automatically learns to discover his/her capabilities in that particular field. Lots of kids don't know what they want to become. We need to push the possibilities in front of them from a younger age.

For kids below 13, gaming is a fun way to learn. History, Geography, and all the other subjects may seem boring, but they are what completes their human cycle. An awareness about the world and the technology available can be given to kids. But the means to use the technology should be provided only at a more matured age. Technology misused can lead to serious consequences.

ianoopWhat are they are going to with programming skills if a kid have interest in arts?

Start a "fruit" company? I have a friend who's doing creative stuff with programming. She is constructing and programming movable art creations with sensors and micro controllers. Programming can and should be thaught earlier in relation to maths and logic. Kids should design blogs and edit photos in photoshop in arts class and there's really cool stuff you can do with computers in geography (google maps api anyone?). Computer innovations play a huge role in economics, disaster relief and poverty reduction.

OceanlinerStart a "fruit" company? I have a friend who's doing creative stuff with programming. She is constructing and programming movable art creations with sensors and micro controllers. Programming can and should be thaught earlier in relation to maths and logic. Kids should design blogs and edit photos in photoshop in arts class and there's really cool stuff you can do with computers in geography (google maps api anyone?). Computer innovations play a huge role in economics, disaster relief and poverty reduction.

Yes, there are really cool stuff kids can do; but the question is would it be right to introduce internet to a juvenile (below 13 years of age)?

anoopthefriendYes, there are really cool stuff kids can do; but the question is would it be right to introduce internet to a juvenile (below 13 years of age)?

Introducing Internet to a juvenile with out supervision is giving a loaded .45 Automatic to a kid

But at the same time our education system can inculcate programming skills to students who have that interest in born in them

Some love math as a nature some computers you can not force a born mathlete into C and C++ programmer. He will always be under par in his life