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Punjab govt in touch with Microsoft, Google to introduce tech certifications for school children
In a bid to foster computer programming skills in children, the Punjab government has established contact with tech giants Microsoft and Google and invited them to come to Pakistan.
Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas, while speaking on a television talk show, said that he is in touch with both companies and hopes that children in grades 9 and 10 will soon be able to acquire Google and Microsoft certifications.
Raas said that he met with Google and Microsoft while on a trip to London and "asked them about coming to Pakistan ─ officially coming to Pakistan."
"They will be here this summer, hopefully," he added.
The minister noted that not every child who drops out of school should feel compelled to take on a job that doesn't require specialised skills. "Why can't we give them better skills?" he asked.
"The new world is [driven by] technology, so in grade 9 and 10, let's offer them software development courses."
When asked why they weren't targeting even younger children to be taught coding, Raas responded: "We are already starting that."
Explaining the rationale behind the move, the minister said: "If a child drops out of school after grade 10, [they can] walk into an office with nothing else except a Microsoft certification."
"Not all children will be continuing their schooling after the tenth grade, that's just the way it is. It cannot be changed," he added.
"Technology is the future," Raas concluded.
Comments (23) Closed
First you want to supply children with schools...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
Good Initiative.
great news
What happened to Axact university?
We should set up more trade learning skills like plumbing, electrical, masonry and other skills in addition to computer skills. This will generate more work for young people.
What a useless idea for publicity!! Drop outs from college should get these certifications, not all class!! Secondly, these certifications or their equivalent already available and we have many IT institutes running in every city of the country!!
ahm ahm....heads of both Google and Microsoft are from across the eastern border..
Will PM sb. take note?
If you look at it in perspective, Pakistan is far behind in tech compared to the developed world and even the emerging world, than Taunsa is at any level with respect to Lahore.
What he requested was far more important for our nation, in order to compete with the world, not just the region, than asking for a hospital in a district the current CM's family has been ruling for decades, if not centuries.
Pakistan needs innovative and progressive leaders at every level if we want to make room for ourselves at the world stage.
This is something the Chaudrys understood. They were ahead of their time. They built the Arfa Karim tower instead of infrastructure projects for kickbacks.
If the potential of the said location was utilized to its full potential, we could've earned billions and financed dozens of such projects.
We don't need people who don't have electricity in their homes as leaders. We need a leadership that can provide them with electricity, instead.
Unfortunately, you are going to have seek an Indians approval at Microsoft or Google.
Internet education is the way to go. Children are not failing. Schools are failing children.
@Gordon, these certs aren't aimed at children from villages. There are plenty of really good school in the cities and these certs would help those children!
Both the companies are headed by Indians.
Programming is an addiction, This is the addiction we would like to promote among our children. Our kids must know that a good programmer can find the high paying job any where in the world and above all.
It is FUN!
@Omer Are you in IT field or have any Microsoft Certifications?
Sir,
Please also invite the following to setup certifications:
This will go a long way.
So you want high school dropouts to become computer programmers? Are you kidding me? Also, these certifications are not even worth the paper they are written on. I know it because I have been living in the US for the past 36 years and have been involved in the tech field for the past 30. I have seen many so called programmers with such certificates who cannot program and write decent code.
@Shahzad,
Dear Shahzad:
Thank you for your comment. You are right! Point well noted. Cheers;
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
@Seedoo
Are you one of those so called programmers? Why do you want to discourage the youth instead of encouraging it?
@dynamite
Don't you want to see the future head of Google and Microsoft from Pakistan?
@USMAN I agree
Punjab Govt.’s inatative is appreciated all over the world,merely, it should not be only photo session. we hope they would work hard to educate the masses for the development of Punjab and do hope that other provinces too follow this policy for their downtrodden masses. (Texas )
very encouraging
Teaching students of grade 9 and 10 how to code will help become more compatible computer engineers and programmers