African girls can code initiative helps young women thrive
With disruptive technologies resulting in increasing automation, young women must be prepared for the careers of the future. Government, business and international organisations are partnering to ensure that girls are able to participate in the 4th industrial revolution.
Dozens of girls got a taste of this at the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) bootcamp held in Polokwane from 24 June to 3 July. Learners from the North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo receiving training in coding and robotics, among other things.
The Youth Month initiative took place under the theme "Re-imagining and re-thinking STEM education in the 4th industrial revolution". STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The AGCCI is being implemented in South Africa by the UN Women Multi-Country Office for Southern Africa in partnership with the Department of Basic Education and Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). It is also supported by Siemens and the Belgian government.
The AGCCI camps target girls in a bid to address gender imbalances. Gender gaps continue to keep women employed in junior roles, with minor responsibilities, little decision-making power and few opportunities in STEM leadership.
Despite the significant progress made to enhance women’s participation in STEM-related subjects, gender disparity remains a concern at all levels, with only 13% of STEM graduates in South Africa being female.
Ms Mmampei Chaba, Chief Director: Multilateral Cooperation and Africa at the DSI, spoke to learners at the boot camp, saying that young women needed to learn new skills and empower themselves for the new jobs of the future.
Chaba said that the camp was an example of what the new White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) aimed to do. The long-term policy and the 2022-32 STI Decadal Plan both focus on new approaches to foster creativity, learning and entrepreneurship that can flourish as primary drivers of economic growth, job creation and socio-economic reform.
"The Decadal Plan covers the skills of the future and how young people can be employable in the future," said Ms Chaba, adding that "Girls must choose careers that will empower them for the future."
The learners were urged to look beyond the current work environment, which is changing rapidly, with jobs in the service, radiology, pharmacy and public transport sectors, among many others, increasingly impacted by 4th industrial revolution technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.
Chaba said that, while mechanisation and machine learning would become more widespread, human beings would still be needed as engineers, designers and programmers, as well as for intervention and decision-making. People would also be needed for their emotional intelligence, which AI and robots lacked.
The Limpopo MEC for Education, Ms Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, told the learners that the world was competitive, and education curricula should be competitive too.
"Education should empower you, as young people, to be in the coding, robotics and technology space, so that you can represent our country and compete in the world," said Lerule-Ramakhanya.
To address gaps, the government has introduced coding and robotics to the school curriculum to provide learners with the most needed digital and ICT skills. The curriculum also aims to prepare learners to think critically, work collaboratively and solve everyday problems.
Inspiring the young women with information about the advantages of coding capabilities, Ms Rita Nkuhlu, Siemens Executive Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, said rapidly changing technology could not be ignored, as much of our environment was already based on the use of apps and cyber-business.
She said that, as an engineering company, Siemens had developed their own industrial Internet of Things service solution called MindSphere, which collects, stores and learns from complex operational data, enabling improved processes and speeding up management decision-making.
Nkuhlu explained that coding for cybersecurity was also required to safeguard individuals' intellectual property rights, and that, while some jobs would become obsolete, new jobs would be created for people with the necessary skills.
Grade 11 learner Malebogo Bojang from Madibogo High School in the North West said that Youth Month reminded her of the sacrifices made by the youth of 1976, which had made it possible for her and other learners to take school subjects such as science and technology. She said that she considered herself privileged to have participated in the coding and robotics camp.
The second boot camp will be held in the Eastern Cape during the school holidays, from 29 September to 10 October 2023.
Enquiries:
Thabang Setlhare
Cell: 072 659 9690
E-mail: Thabang.Setlhare@dst.gov.za.
