Which programming language should be taught in South African high schools?

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MartinMorrison

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As you may or may not know, there was a recent scandal during which the national government tried to push forward Delphi and the programming language to be taught in all South African high schools.

Half of the country (primarily KZN and WC) teach Java in high schools. The other half (primary Gauteng) teach Delphi.

Which programming language do you think should be taught, and why? I'm a Python fan - it's being adopted like crazy at many universities around the world for teaching, and as a 'first' programming language. The simplicity of syntax allows you to get down to understanding the core of programming - how to solve problems, and translate abstract ideas into workable solutions.

I'm also interested in your views as I headed up an initiative to train nearly half of all IT high school teachers in the country - in Java. I'm hoping to return to this problem in the future, and perhaps we can help propose a new national language for high school IT education. If you're interested, check out my organisation's website - www.hyperiondev.com - we also offer online courses in programming for individuals in SA, and workshop training for companies.

Edit: Taught, not talk - typo in the title :whistle:
 
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Which programming language should be talk in South African high schools?
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They should be typed. If you are really into talking, then lisp.
 
According to CAPS. Scratch is taught in Grade 10 and Grade 11 and 12 is Java.
 
I studied to be an IT teacher (2001 to 2004). We actually got taught website coding for a few weeks and then Java for the first year and wrote applets, and then did some stuff in Natural for a semester in the 1st semester of second year, and then did Delphi for 3 semesters.

Thought Natural was a good base to then expand upon.
 
supersunbird said:
I studied to be an IT teacher (2001 to 2004). We actually got taught website coding for a few weeks and then Java for the first year and wrote applets, and then did some stuff in Natural for a semester in the 1st semester of second year, and then did Delphi for 3 semesters.

Thought Natural was a good base to then expand upon.
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Are you still an IT teacher?
 
Started at Normaal Kollege Pretoria then we became Tukkies during 2001. But it will always be Groenkloof Aventura no matter what other name lol.
 
Can't see why it should be a scandal to push Delphi. You're learning programming and not a specific language. Languages can easily be picked up afterwards. That said it should be a general language in common use so either C/C++ or Delphi. Pascal is too outdated.
 
Swa said:
Can't see why it should be a scandal to push Delphi. You're learning programming and not a specific language. Languages can easily be picked up afterwards. That said it should be a general language in common use so either C/C++ or Delphi. Pascal is too outdated.
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Don't you think that in a country where education, especially in technical skills, is so scare we should try deliver the most industry/research relevant skills as soon as possible? Considering that less than a quarter of all matriculants even go on to study at university - do you think languages can actually that easily be picked up afterwards?

Would you confidently say that Delphi is more likely to get your a programming job than Java or Python, or help you more when trying to graduate from a university? That's the real consideration here.
 
I find the c based languages just do a better job but it is harder to get into and might scare off some students.
 
I did Turbo Pascal in school and it was manageable. Carrying over the concepts from their into varsity meant C++ and Delphi was a breeze. So it's not really a matter of language but more a matter of structure and methodology as to how it's thought that matters.
 
You speak c++? :eek:

MartinMorrison said:
As you may or may not know, there was a recent scandal during which the national government tried to push forward Delphi and the programming language to be taught in all South African high schools.

Half of the country (primarily KZN and WC) teach Java in high schools. The other half (primary Gauteng) teach Delphi.

Which programming language do you think should be taught, and why? I'm a Python fan - it's being adopted like crazy at many universities around the world for teaching, and as a 'first' programming language. The simplicity of syntax allows you to get down to understanding the core of programming - how to solve problems, and translate abstract ideas into workable solutions.

I'm also interested in your views as I headed up an initiative to train nearly half of all IT high school teachers in the country - in Java. I'm hoping to return to this problem in the future, and perhaps we can help propose a new national language for high school IT education. If you're interested, check out my organisation's website - www.hyperiondev.com - we also offer online courses in programming for individuals in SA, and workshop training for companies.

Edit: Taught, not talk - typo in the title :whistle:
Click to expand...
 
MartinMorrison said:
Don't you think that in a country where education, especially in technical skills, is so scare we should try deliver the most industry/research relevant skills as soon as possible? Considering that less than a quarter of all matriculants even go on to study at university - do you think languages can actually that easily be picked up afterwards?

Would you confidently say that Delphi is more likely to get your a programming job than Java or Python, or help you more when trying to graduate from a university? That's the real consideration here.
Click to expand...
Yes I do know they can. If you don't do tertiary study the only thing on your resume is "Computer Study" or whatever they call it now and not which programming language you studied so it should be about equipping students with the best tool for learning.
 
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