TLDR: Five-Point Highlights
- Robotics and Coding classes have started at Durbar High School, the oldest school in Nepal, under the ‘Book Free Friday’ program of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC).
- Students from Grade 3-6 are learning block-based coding, while students of Grade 7 and 8 are learning Python programming.
- Coding clubs have been formed in 14 schools of KMC, which are connected to a global network of more than 160 countries.
- The students and teachers of the school are enthusiastic about the new subject, which is expected to enhance their life-skills education.
- KMC is collaborating with ‘Digital and Beyond’ to familiarize students and teachers with the latest technological tools.
Robotics and Coding classes have started at the historical Durbar High School (Bhanu Secondary School), the oldest school in Nepal.
The classes are conducted under the ‘Book Free Friday’ program started by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC).
Block-based coding and Python Programming
According to Shailendra Jha, assistant expert of KMC Urban Planning Commission, the programs are selected based on the age group and learning ability of the students.
Students of Grade 3 to 6 are learning block-based coding, an easy and fun programming method for beginners. Students will learn to create various animated stories and games through the drag-and-drop interface of this method.
Meanwhile, students in Grades 7 and 8 are taught Python programming – a powerful and versatile programming language that can be used for web development, data analysis, etc.
Robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) classes are also running in the school.
Coding Clubs in 14 Schools
The students are not only learning how to code, but also how to collaborate, communicate, and create. Coding clubs have been formed in 14 schools of KMC. These clubs are connected to a global network of more than 160 countries, where they can share their projects, ideas, and feedback with other coders around the world.
Excitement in Students and Teachers
The students and teachers of the school are enthusiastic about the new subject, which is expected to enhance their creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy.
Robotics, artificial intelligence and coding classes are expected to help develop the technical ability of students to solve various problems. Sarada Paudel, the principal of Durbar High School, shared that the students are enthusiastic about the new subject.
KMC is expanding technology in collaboration with ‘Digital and Beyond’ to familiarize students and teachers with the latest technological tools. The KMC has been conducting extra-curricular activities every Friday in all 89 schools since last May (Baisakh) in accordance with the main objective of imparting life-skills education.
