The province is drafting plans to make coding a part of the curriculum in every grade.

Education Minister Karen Casey told a room of more than 600 students at the Big Data Productivity Congress in Halifax on Wednesday that learning coding will help prepare them for future careers.

“We know that coding promotes problem-solving, teamwork, critical thinking, innovation and creativity,” Casey said. “And we also know that those skills are directly related to industries like computer programming, manufacturing, communications and more. And those are the industries that you will be going to.”

The Education Department will finalize its plans over the course of the 2015-16 school year, and will introduce formal coding instruction in some grades in September.

Casey said the department has already laid the groundwork by teaching students in grades Primary to 3 about the basics of computer safety and problem-solving.

“These kids have a device in their hand by the time they’re a year old or less. So they know more than their parents do. We are always surprised with the knowledge base and skill set that Primary kids bring to the classroom now that they didn’t bring five years ago, 10 years ago.”

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