Maltese schools participate in Hour of Code initiative

Education minister Evarist Bartolo said children should not be passive receivers of digital developments but should understand and engage with them.

Speaking at the launch of the international Hour of Code initiative, Bartolo said that children should understand the digital world we live in and learn to control it.

"We need to keep identifying ways to integrate technology in education," he said.

Introducing the event, computing education officer James Catania explained that the Hour of Code is an international project held between the 7 and 11 December on the occasion of International Computer Science Week.

"The event is used to introduce coding skills through games," he said, adding that this year would see the use of games like Minecraft for the project.

"Understanding the digital world is a prerequisite to success in the world we live in," he said, adding that the games could also be used to ingrain practises of critical thinking and problem solving that are essential for students' futures.

Although some schools had participated in the event before, this year marked the first time it was being launched on a national scale with resources being made available to all schools.

Prime minister Joseph Muscat said that the initiative goes beyond technology as it helps to encourage students to structure problems and find solutions.

"Technology will allow students to be more successful but I also believe it will be essential to give those who opt for nontraditional education and jobs to succeed," he added, highlighting the alternative career paths that technology can provide.