As educators and policymakers acknowledge the significance of equipping children for the future of work, coding classes are gaining more prominence in school curriculums. The ability to code is becoming an essential skill in today’s digital world and is in high demand by employers.
Drag-and-drop customization tools are enabling non-tech professionals to create software using an intuitive interface, even question the necessity of learning to code.
But the irony is that Teaching Kids to Code is being mandated within the school curriculum and entrepreneurship is not yet considered to be a mandatory subject. This is unfortunate, as an entrepreneurial mindset truly prepares children for life. Entrepreneurship teaches children valuable skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to see opportunities where others see obstacles. These skills are not only valuable for starting a business but also for navigating the ever-changing job market and being resilient in the face of uncertainty.
Mr. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google called on employees in an internal memo to “be more entrepreneurial”. He didn’t ask all of them to be more tech-savvy. Not everyone in the organization is expected to code but everyone is expected to be more entrepreneurial.
As parents and schools, we need to ask this question. Why are we giving so much importance to teaching kids to code and paying no heed to developing an entrepreneurial mindset? This may sound like an unpopular opinion capable of drawing a backlash.
We are not speaking against coding, we are against the mindset that pushes kids to learn how to code at a young age while not building on thinking abilities.
Andreas Schleicher, the director of education and skills at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development was speaking at the World Innovation Summit for Education in Paris and he said, “teaching kids to code is a waste of time” and we couldn’t agree more. By the time kids grow up, coding will be obsolete. By the way, things are moving, intelligent applications will be able to create digital products without having to code.
What is not going to become outdated is the ability to think and solve problems. This is why the focus should be on teaching kids how to think. The ability to be able to think on their own and solve problems is way more valuable than coding. Which was exactly the point Mr. Sundar Pichai was trying to make.
In addition, entrepreneurship education also teaches children to be innovative and to think outside the box. It encourages them to take risks and to learn from their mistakes, which are valuable lessons that they can apply to all aspects of their life. It also helps them to develop a growth mindset, which is the belief that they can improve and achieve their goals through hard work and perseverance.
Entrepreneurship education also has a positive impact on children’s emotional and physical well-being. It can help them to build self-confidence, to be self-reliant and independent, and to develop a sense of purpose and direction in life.
In conclusion, it is important to recognize the value of entrepreneurship education in preparing children for life. An entrepreneurial mindset and skill set not only provides children with valuable career opportunities but also helps them develop important life skills. It would be beneficial to consider mandating entrepreneurship education within the school curriculum, alongside coding classes, to provide children with a well-rounded education that prepares them for both their future careers and their lives.
Here’s an article on why you should not enroll your kids for coding
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