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Education critic Rob Fleming cited a survey, conducted by the ministry of education in March, which found that 66 to 80 per cent of superintendents reported the majority of its K-9 educators were not ready to teach coding in the fall.

The survey, which was completed by 27 of B.C.’s 60 superintendents, also found 30 per cent of school districts reported inadequate access to computers for elementary school kids, while 40 per cent had similar concerns in middle-secondary schools.

THE RESPONSE: Education minister Mike Bernier reiterated that the province had given $6 million in funding toward training teachers and buying new equipment and resources for coding instruction — an announcement made earlier in June.

The decision to pony up the money was “based on advice from our partners and from the survey results,” Bernier said.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW: The ministry is taking a staggered approach to implementation. Coding-related courses or modules start for some schools and districts this fall, but don’t become mandatory until September 2018.

Teresa Rezansoff, chair of the B.C. School Trustees Association, said it remains unclear how many districts will be teaching coding to students after Labour Day.

Schools that already offer coding instruction, including schools in her district of Boundary, will continue to do so, while others will need time to implement the changes.

“There’s a little bit more leeway to get some districts up to speed,” she said.

The initial announcement in January surprised and alarmed many, added Rezansoff, as many school districts were not equipped to teach coding and lacked the infrastructure to do so. June’s funding announcement, while welcome, provided a tight timeline to have training, programs and supports in place by this fall.

chchan@postmedia.com

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