Proportion of Students Who Have Undergone Code for Fun Enrichment Programme
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the participation rates in the Code for Fun (CFF) enrichment programme and strategies for developing foundational digital quotient and artificial intelligence (AI) readiness among students. Ms See Jinli Jean inquired about the proportion of students reached since 2019 and plans to update the curriculum for an AI-ready workforce. Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo replied that CFF is mandatory for upper primary students and was offered by nearly two-thirds of secondary schools in 2023, reaching over 50,000 students annually. She noted that the programme is regularly reviewed, with new content on AI and data literacy to be introduced in 2025. Additionally, the Ministry of Education integrates digital competencies through the formal curriculum and co-curricular activities to ensure all students attain necessary technological skills.
Transcript
46 Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Communications and Information for each year since the Code for Fun enrichment programme was launched in 2019 (a) what proportion of each cohort of primary school and secondary school students respectively have undergone the programme; (b) for students who did not undergo the programme, how does the Ministry ensure that they can attain the foundational digital quotient; and (c) what are the Ministry's plans to update the programme and its delivery to contribute to developing an artificial intelligence-ready workforce.
Mrs Josephine Teo: The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Ministry of Education (MOE) introduced the Code for Fun (CFF) enrichment programme in 2014 to expose primary and secondary school students to coding and computational thinking. Since 2020, it has been mandatory for all upper primary school students to go through CFF or a comparable coding programme. While CFF remains an optional programme at the secondary school level, almost two-thirds of secondary schools offered the programme in 2023, up from 48% in 2021. More than 50,000 students are reached through these programmes every year.
As technology continues to evolve quickly, IMDA and MOE review CFF regularly to ensure that the programme is relevant and up to date. As part of its programme design, CFF covers emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI). We are working towards introducing new content on AI and data literacy in the refreshed CFF for 2025.
MOE provides opportunities for students to develop knowledge of digital and AI literacies, as well as emerging technologies through formal curriculum, STEM-related co-curricular activities and other enrichment programmes. More information is available in MOE's responses to the Parliamentary Questions on Incorporating Artificial Intelligence into the Curriculum on 3 July 2023; and Plans to Ensure Singaporeans' Readiness in Technology-driven Economy on 6 January 2020. [Please refer to (a) "Incorporating Artificial Intelligence into School Curriculum", Official Report, 3 July 2023, Vol 95, Issue 105, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section; and (b) "Plans to Ensure Singaporeans' Readiness in Technology-driven Economy", Official Report, 6 January 2020, Vol 94, Issue 115, Written Answers to Questions section.]