President Obama calls for computer programming requirements in schools
President Obama has stated that all children should be introduced to computer programming in schools, due to the rise of computer-centric jobs and America's increasing interest in videogames.
In a recent Google+ Fireside Hangout interview (above) - via Polygon - Obama said that introducing required computer programming studies in schools "made sense", given the popularity of gaming among children. He suggested that the move would also help make more kids 'job-ready by the time they wrap up their education.
Citing Mark Zuckerburg as an example of someone who made their riches off the back of a love for gaming, Obama continued, "Part of what I'm trying to do here is make sure that we're working with high schools and school districts all across the country to make the high school experience relevant for young people, not all of whom are going to get four year college degree or advanced degree.
"There are a whole bunch of young people out there who I suspect if in high school are given the opportunity to figure [that] out — 'Here's how you can design your own games, but it requires you to know math and requires you to know science,' or you know, 'Here's what a career in graphic design looks like, and we're going to start setting those programs in our high schools not waiting til community college' — Not only does it prepare young people who are not going to a four-year college to be job-ready, but it also engages kids because they feel like, 'I get this,'"
He added, "Given how pervasive computers and the Internet is now and how integral it is in our economy and how fascinated kids are with it, I want to make sure that they know how to actually produce stuff using computers and not simply consume stuff."
What do you make of the above? is Obama laying down some truth-bombs here? Let us know below.