Code@SG empowers young students to code today and create tomorrow

From the convenience of online shopping and telemedicine consultations to remote work and home-based learning, digital technology has revolutionised the way we live, learn, work and play. It fuels a rapidly growing digital economy in Singapore and across the region. In fact, Southeast Asia’s digital economy was set to deliver $100 billion in revenue in 2023, growing at 1.7 times the rate of gross merchandise value (GMV) growth since 2021¹.

To help Singapore unlock the immense opportunities that technology brings, everyone, regardless of age, needs to be empowered to thrive in the booming internet economy. Providing the next generation with the necessary skills to use technology safely and with confidence is a critical component to achieving this goal. Working in close collaboration with industry partners and associations, IMDA spearheads various initiatives and programmes like Code@SG to equip Singaporeans with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive and lead in the digital future.

Providing an early start to the coding journey

Code@SG is a movement to teach students how to code from an early age, so that it translates into a national capability. Code@SG, which has benefitted more than 345,000 students since its launch in 2014², introduces young Singaporeans to the basics of coding – the process of writing instructions to a computer in a form it understands. Students from various levels can hone their coding skills through two programmes.

In collaboration with Ministry of Education (MOE), Code for Fun Enrichment Programmes are offered to all MOE primary and secondary school students. The 10-hour programme increases students’ knowledge of computational thinking, digital making, and coding through simple visual programming-based lessons.

The Infocomm Media Clubs Programme supports the community of infocomm and media-related clubs across MOE primary and secondary schools, and junior colleges. These clubs offer curated activities for students to enhance their knowledge, acquire skills, and gain industry exposure in tech and media. Guided by MOE’s Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) LEAPS (Leadership, Enrichment, Achievement, Participation and Service) framework, the activities provide more opportunities for club members to obtain CCA points while participating in activities that allow them to hone their leadership skills, give back to the community through Values-In-Action projects, and compete in national competitions.

Grooming the next generation of digital innovators

Over the years, the Code@SG movement has produced many young innovators whose ideas and creations have the potential to make a positive impact in the real world. For instance, students from Admiralty Secondary School created a telehealth solution called PosteoPilot³. Using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, their innovation reduces the time and cost of diagnosing sports injuries and neurological conditions. Similarly, a team from North Vista Secondary School designed an AI-enabled smart recycling bin called ‘Recycle RAIght!’, which analyses the different types of recyclables to determine which bin should be used.

Learning how to code not only inspires digital innovation among young Singaporeans, it also provides many benefits beyond the digital world. By learning how to code, students discover the process of digital making, which uses digital tools to design, prototype, and fabricate physical objects. Digital making helps to develop aesthetics, creativity, and talent for construction, which are essential for design and invention.

Students also improve their computational thinking abilities, a problem-solving approach that involves breaking down complex problems into smaller parts. This effective approach of analysing problems and developing innovative solutions to achieve goals is inspired by the way computers process information. Though widely used in computer science, it can be applied to other disciplines and daily life.

Opening doors to the booming digital economy

Coding is fundamental to the technologies that have revolutionised our lives and will birth the innovations that are yet to be. Code@SG is one of IMDA’s many initiatives to equip youths with the know-how to shape the digital future. Through hands-on learning and real-world experience, Code@SG helps students advance their digital literacy journey. By imparting an invaluable skill that translates into many career paths, they are well positioned to reap the benefits of the digital economy.

Find out how Code@SG can help kickstart young Singaporeans’ coding journeys.