Coding for School Students in the Age of AI: Essential Skill or Overhyped Trend?

The past decade has seen a global push towards teaching coding to school students. Governments, schools, and edtech platforms have introduced coding classes, often labeling it the “language of the future.” But with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) tools that can generate code on demand, parents and educators are now asking: Is coding still an essential skill for students, or has it become just another buzzword?

Why Coding Became Popular in Schools

Coding was initially promoted as a way to prepare children for a tech-driven job market. Just as English became a global language, coding was seen as the universal language of technology.

The logic was simple:

• Tech jobs were booming. Software engineers, app developers, and web designers were in high demand.

• Problem-solving skills. Coding was said to sharpen logic, creativity, and analytical thinking.

• Future readiness. Parents believed early exposure could give their children a head start in careers of tomorrow.

The AI Disruption: Do Students Still Need Coding?

With platforms like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and Google Gemini, even non-programmers can now generate working code. This raises a new debate: If AI can code, why should children learn it at all?

Supporters of coding education argue that:

• Coding isn’t just about writing code—it’s about understanding systems and problem-solving.

• Even with AI, someone needs to set goals, check accuracy, and apply logic.

• Future innovators must know the basics to use AI responsibly.

Critics, however, believe that:

• For most students, advanced coding may not be necessary.

• Emphasis should shift to AI literacy, digital ethics, and creativity, instead of just syntax and programming languages.

Coding as a Life Skill, Not Just a Career Skill

Whether or not every child becomes a software engineer, coding can still be valuable in school education. It teaches students to:

• Break big problems into smaller steps.

• Think logically and systematically.

• Understand how technology works behind the scenes.

This mindset will be useful in any career—be it medicine, law, design, or entrepreneurship.

Finding the Right Balance

The challenge for schools today is balance. Instead of treating coding as the ultimate goal, educators should:

• Teach basic coding concepts in early grades.

• Introduce AI tools alongside coding so students learn collaboration between humans and machines.

• Focus on creativity, critical thinking, and ethics, which AI cannot replace.

Final Word

So, is coding for school students a skill for the future or an overhyped buzzword? The truth lies somewhere in between. Coding may no longer guarantee a high-paying job by itself, but it still builds foundational thinking skills that are crucial in the age of AI.