Rotorua students would benefit from coding classes but making them compulsory could raise social issues, a Rotorua principal says.
The Ministry of Education has started work with sector partners to review the role and position of technology classes in the New Zealand Curriculum.
Among the proposed changes, compulsory coding orcomputer programming classes could be on the cards, following trends at schools abroad.
Mokoia Intermediate School provides optional coding classes for its students and principal Deb Epp said the school was working hard to prepare children for a "world we can't envisage".
"I think there are a lot of schools doing great things to help their students become resilient thinkers and I think it would be a hard task finding a school that does not already have a digital learning strategy.
"While I do think students benefit from coding classes, the decision to make them compulsory requires a lot of thought as it could have wider social implications.
"If coding does become compulsory there will be issues of equality that will need to be addressed, not just in schools but in communities as well."
Ministry of Education head of student achievement Graham Stoop said digital technology was increasingly part of daily life in New Zealand and it was important students became digitally literate "so they are able to make the most of the opportunities technology can offer".
"The curriculum is flexible and enables schools to make their own decisions about student learning in consultation with their communities. This means each school's curriculum is tailored to the needs of their students.
"We are working with educators, students, local government, academics and industry stakeholders on new ideas that will raise the profile of this important area of study and we look forward to continuing this partnership."
Mr Stoop said work had just started and involved asking a range of questions about the curriculum including whether there were gaps in technology and digital teaching at primary through to senior secondary levels.
"One question we will be asking is should coding be compulsory? It has been made compulsory in some countries but not all. Do we need to make it compulsory here if schools who want to teach coding can already do so?"
Mr Stoop said there would be other questions but they couldn't be confirmed until the ministry formally began the process.
The findings of the review are expected to be released later this year.
