More than 700 girls across the island will be engaged in computer coding simultaneously between Thursday, December 10 and Saturday, December 12.

The programme, ‘Jamaican Girls Coding’, is designed to target females between the ages of 12 and 14. It aims to introduce young girls to the male dominated field of computer coding.

During the three days, persons who are registered may log onto jamaicangirlscoding.com to participate in the activity from any computer in any location with internet connectivity. Persons may also use tablet computers.

Community access points across the island will also be available to facilitate users between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, said the initiative aims to get females interested in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) field.

“Right now there is a severe gender imbalance in terms of males dominating the software development and coding professions,” he told JIS News.

He pointed out that the field is male dominated, with 90 per cent of the professionals being men.

“The programme is trying to make young ladies get an understanding as to what is involved in having a career in coding and also to encourage more of them to get involved in the harder core ICT disciplines and to eventually see it as a potential career, and as a way of empowering themselves as women,” the State Minister said.

He also challenged young ladies to use this knowledge to develop solutions to problems, as well as develop products and solutions, which can earn foreign exchange for the country.

The initiative is a collaboration of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining and a group of private Foundations.

Interested persons may register on jamaicangirlscoding.com to participate in the three-day activity. Upon completion of the programme, participants will receive certification.

The ‘Jamaican Girls Coding’ is  part of an international thrust, aimed at getting females interested in computer related professions. The programme was started in 2014.