SENATOR Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III filed a measure mandating age-appropriate computer programming subjects in the basic education curriculum.

In his Senate Bill 79 or the proposed Philippine Computer Programming Education Act, Pimentel stressed the need to keep the country abreast with the latest developments in science.

“One field of science which we need to expose our students to and prepare them to compete in is computer science, particularly the subject of computer programming,” he said in his explanatory note.

Under the measure, age-appropriate computer programming must be taught as a separate subject in Grades 4 to 12. The subject must have a sufficient time allotment to enable students to appreciate the importance of computer programming skills that are needed for higher level education.

Under the bill, the DepEd, in coordination with the Curriculum Consultative Committee, shall formulate the necessary refinements in the Basic Education Curriculum to accommodate the age-appropriate computer programming subjects.