INFOGRAPHIC: Coding at school — How do EU countries compare?

This article is part of our special report EU Code Week 2015.

SPECIAL REPORT / Digital competences and ICT skills are seen as key for young people to integrate in the job market. Jobseekers will have a harder time finding work without them.

Today, 90% of all jobs are expected to require at least a basic level of ICT skills. By 2020, Europe is expected to see a shortage of more than 800,000 professionals with computing skills. More and more countries or regions are therefore now including computer programming as part of school curricula.

Coding at school

A recent survey has shown that 15 EU countries have already integrated coding in their school curriculum. These are: Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Malta, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and the UK (England).

Among them, France and Spain have integrated coding only recently (in 2014-2015). Finland announced it will integrate coding in its curriculum in 2016. And Belgium (Flanders) is currently debating whether to integrate coding at school.

At which levels?

9 EU countries already integrate or will integrate coding at primary school level soon.

• Already integrate: Estonia, France, Spain, Slovakia, UK (England).
• Will integrate: Belgium (Flanders), Finland, Poland, Portugal.

12 EU countries already integrate or will integrate coding at upper secondary school level in general education.

• Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and the United Kingdom (England).

Computational thinking

But coding is not just for ‘computer geeks’ or those seeking employment in the ICT sector. Most countries say their aim is also to develop students’ logical thinking skills and problem-solving skills, which are beneficial to all students.

Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, UK (England).