KINGSTON, Jamaica — Students in 55 primary schools are to benefit from the e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited (e-LJam) micro:bit coding programme this academic year, as the company ramps up efforts to expand early exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Andrew Lee, said the initiative will provide more than 4,000 micro:bit devices to students in grades four to six, helping them develop coding, computational thinking, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

He noted that exposing children to coding at an early age will better prepare them for STEM-related subjects and careers as they progress through the education system.

“The earlier we start our children, exposing them and having them understand how coding works, it will enhance their computational thinking and their critical thinking and problem-solving skills early,” Lee told JIS News.

The micro:bit programme is also intended to help strengthen students’ ability to solve real-world problems.

It forms part of e-LJam’s broader efforts to integrate technology into teaching and learning and equip students with skills for the future.

Lee explained that the programme is being undertaken in collaboration with the National Education Trust (NET), the British Council and the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information.

He said e-LJam continues to position itself to keep pace with the needs of schools as technology evolves.

e-LJam, an agency of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, is mandated to integrate technology into the island’s education system.