Women's Day

Science calls for computer science as a subject for A-levels

More computer science lessons could help girls progress

(Bild: APA/dpa)

Every year on Women's Day, people talk about equality and every time it feels like the debate goes round in circles. A group of clever people have come up with a new idea on how to advance girls' careers. Computer science should become an A-level subject, scientists demand. The "Krone" knows the details.

Informatik Austria, an association of computer science faculties and institutes at universities in Austria, is calling on politicians to introduce at least four hours of computer science in upper secondary schools and to make it a school-leaving examination subject. Currently, there are only two hours in the 9th grade. "Then it's over. The students have forgotten everything by the time they take their A-levels," says Gerti Kappel, Dean at TU Wien, in an interview with the "Krone" newspaper.

With 78 professors, the Institute of Computer Science at TU Wien is one of the largest in Europe. Over 25 percent of the professors are women, while the figure for students is still under 20 percent. "I started studying in 1979. We were 15 percent then. Now we fluctuate between 17 and 19 percent," says Kappel. 

Kappel heads the Computer Science Institute

(Bild: © 2023 Amélie Chapalain, all rights reserved.)

Why has nothing progressed? "Because the school is so conservative and because we don't have a proper compulsory subject in computer science at school that is worthy of the A-levels. We have basic digital education from the 1st to the 4th grade of grammar school for one hour per week. We learn application skills (program applications and the 10-finger system) and media skills (fake news, bullying, etc.). That's all important, but it's not the subject that's about understanding what it means to think algorithmically and what information technology means."

Friends, that's not enough. We are in a data-driven society.

Gerti Kappel

Now there are two hours of computer science in Year 1. "We say: Friends, that's not enough. It has to be worthy of a matura. We are in a data-driven society." Schools need to explain to young people and make them aware of how information technology works. "It's also about understanding how I can build algorithms."

The European Commission estimates that there will be a shortage of 750,000 computer scientists in the EU by 2030. This shortage is expected to have a significant impact on the economy and will cost the EU 115 billion euros a year by 2030.

There are 20,000 pupils a year at AHS, 85% of whom graduate, 60% of whom are female. This means 12,000 women. These women should not end up as secretaries in IT companies, but as IT specialists, demands the IT association.

Women make up 50 percent of high school students and not even 20 percent of computer science students. "If the subject were to become an A-level subject, it would firstly be much more interesting as a teaching profession because you would then have more hours at school as a teacher. And secondly, it would be more interesting for pupils. The fact that there are 40 to 50 women studying mathematics and over 50 percent in chemistry shows that this works. "Why is that? Because they did their A-levels in chemistry and loved it," says Kappel. Technology per se is not the problem, women were not brought up to do it.

A basic understanding of computer science is essential for everyone. All Austrians have a basic understanding of physics, chemistry, mathematics, languages and so on. A female manager without a feel for numbers is a bad choice for many positions. Likewise, every Austrian, regardless of position, must have an understanding of the basics of computer science so that the economy can benefit from its advantages.

A European comparison also shows that Austria has some catching up to do. Particularly in Eastern Europe, for example in Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovakia and Serbia, computer science is a compulsory subject. In Greece, Serbia and Bosnia, computer science is already taught in elementary school. And in Latvia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, computer science is taught throughout lower secondary school.