Empowering more girls into computing
I was fortunate enough to study computing aged 12 in an Indian school and that led me to study Computer Engineering for my undergrad degree in Singapore back in the 90’s. Nearly three decades later and with AI transforming work and life, girls made up only 17.5% of A level Computer Science entries and 21% of tech professionals (vs 51% of women in the working age population) in 2024. There would have been an additional 550,000 IT specialists in the UK if gender representation in IT were equal to the workforce ‘norm’.
So what can we do?
I am teaching programming to the GCSE class at a local secondary school in London, running a Micro:bit coding club and an AI for Good club. By bringing engaging and relevant examples from the real world and showing how technology can be used to solve problems that they care about, I hope that I can inspire more girls to study computer science, improve gender balance in tech, and address the skills gap in the UK. Secondary school or university is too late and we need interventions in primary school that inspire more girls for study and work in tech.
The National Centre for Computing Education have announced an extension of the highly popular I Belong: encouraging girls into computer science programme into key stage 2, allowing for earlier interventions to get more girls inspired into computing study and future careers.
Research indicates that gender stereotypes in computing form early, deterring girls from computer science. The I Belong programme empowers educators to create inclusive lessons, boosting girls’ confidence and enthusiasm for computing, fostering long-term engagement and success.
You can be part of the journey too! Role models are essential in inspiring the next generation and seeing real people in diverse roles can help more girls see themselves as part of the tech industry in the future.
Join us in shaping the future of computing and ensuring that every girl knows she belongs in this dynamic and rewarding field. Together, we can close the gender gap in computer science and inspire the next generation of female tech leaders.
Sign up to become a Computing Ambassador and start volunteering in schools today!