The global manager of essential electricity and telecommunications infrastructures Redeia (formerly Red Eléctrica Group) and the American non-profit organization Code.org, dedicated to training children, young people and teachers in computer science, will be joining forces to promote free and equal access for primary and secondary school students to training in computer sciencie as a fundamental language for the jobs of the future. 

Redeia President, Beatriz Corredor, in the name of the business group, has joined the Code.org movement, which came about nine years ago when Ali and Hadi Partovy, entrepreneurs and philanthropists, realised that the American and global education systems were failing to train children in STEM skills. 

Redeia's support for Code.org will provide a boost to the range of computer science educational content that the platform already offers in more than 60 languages and which has been accessed by more than 55 million students and two million teachers.

“It is very important that our children study the language of computer programming in the same way that they learn mathematics or English. When children study computer sciencie, they are not only learning how to write a code or an algorithm to be able to give commands to a smart device, but they are also developing their ability to reason and solve complex problems, as well as developing their creativity. In addition, knowing how to use and develop technology competently will ensure they have future employment opportunities," stated Beatriz Corredor.

"The digital world is already part of our daily lives, and it is essential in order to address the solution to the main challenges facing the planet. That is why we need to know the language in which electronic devices communicate and to understand and master it from an early age," she added, stressing that "if we want the future to be not only green, but also fair and inclusive, we need to ensure that all students, without exception, and especially girls and under-represented groups, have equal access to computer science education.”

The digital economy cannot be productive unless it incorporates a broad base of people who are prepared to operate in technological environments that are different from current ones. Programming has democratised many aspects of our daily reality. Programming fosters diversity and gender equality, and it is important to increase plurality in the technology workforce.