Every year on Women’s Day people talk about equality and every time it feels like the debate keeps going in circles. A group of smart people have a new idea to advance girls’ careers. Scientists demand that computer science be a subject on the final diploma. The “crown” knows the details.
Informatik Austria, an association of computer science faculties and institutes at universities in Austria, is demanding that politicians receive at least four hours of computer science in upper secondary education and that it be introduced as a Matura subject. There are currently only two classes in 9th grade. ‘Then it’s over. By the time they graduate from high school, the students have forgotten everything,” said Gerti Kappel, dean of the Vienna University of Technology, in an interview with the “Krone”.
With 78 professors, the computer science institute of TU Vienna is one of the largest in Europe. More than 25 percent of professors are women, while the number of students is still less than 20 percent. “I started studying in 1979. We were there with 15 percent. Now we fluctuate between 17 and 19 percent,” says Kappel.
Why hasn’t anything progressed? “Because the school is so conservative and because we do not have a sensible, compulsory computer science subject at school that is equivalent to the final diploma. We have digital primary education at the level of lower secondary education, from groups 1 to 4, one hour per week. Application skills (program applications and the 10-finger system) and media skills (fake news, bullying, etc.) are taught. That’s all important, but understanding what it means to think algorithmically and what information technology means is not the topic.”
Now there are two hours of computer science in the 1st senior year. “We say: Friends, that is not enough. This must be equivalent to a high school diploma. We are in a data-driven society.” Schools must explain to young people and make them aware of how information technology works. “It’s also about understanding how to build algorithms.”
In high school, 50 percent are women and in computer science, less than 20 percent are women. “If the subject became a Matura subject, it would be much more interesting than teaching in the first place, because you would have more hours at school than a teacher. And secondly, it would be more interesting for the students. The fact that 40 to 50 women study mathematics and more than 50 percent of women study chemistry shows that this works. “Why is that? Because they studied chemistry and loved it,” says Kappel. Technology itself is not the problem; women were not raised for it.
A basic knowledge of computer science for everyone is essential. All Austrians have a basic knowledge of physics, chemistry, mathematics, languages, etc. A manager without a sense of numbers is the wrong choice in many positions. Likewise, every Austrian, regardless of position, must understand the basics of computer science so that the economy can reap its benefits.
A European comparison also shows that Austria still has some catching up to do. Especially in Eastern Europe, such as Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovakia and Serbia, computer science is a compulsory subject. In Greece, Serbia and Bosnia, computer science is already taught in primary school. And in Latvia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, there are computer science classes in lower secondary schools.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
