Teach computing in primary schools

DUE to the increase in the use of information technology (IT) software in most public and private sector institutions, the relevant authorities and stakeholders involved in our education system should establish basic computing courses in our primary level curriculum.
Most students in Papua New Guinea are taught computing subjects in high schools, colleges and universities.
We need to provide our children with opportunities of becoming computer scientists and computer engineers early in their lives.
That’s because as technology advances, the threat of cybercrime increases.
I believe we have qualified people in this area but due to brain-drain, they are forced to work overseas.
The Education Department should make IT a core subject in line with English and mathematics.
Most technologically advanced countries can easily tap into to our weak security systems through the guise of foreign investments or through foreign policy.
Most of our institutions don’t operate on sophisticated IT programmes, which makes us vulnerable to cyber-attacks in the long run.
Developed nations are now engaged in proxy cyber wars.
The 2016 election rigging in the United States of America where Russia was reportedly involved in cyber-attacking the elections and the reported cyber-attacks on Iran’s telecommunication industry by Israel should send a clear message that if a next war is to happen, it would be through advanced technological warfare.
Having a good base of computer scientists and engineers should be a priority for the country.
The onus should be on our education sector to improve IT courses.
Build more schools specialising in IT to broaden our children’s chances.
It is scary that most of our graduates, when entering the work force, have difficulties in mastering a simple programme such as Microsoft excel.
We are vulnerable to cyber threats more than ever so the foundation needs immediate attention before something bad happens.

Waterman