The number of young girls trained under information and communication technology (ICT) group Vodacom’s #CodeLikeAGirl programme is expected to reach 4000 by the end of the financial year.

Starting from a base of just 20 girls from schools around Tembisa, equipped with coding skills under the programme during its launch year in 2017, the two-week programme will, by the end of the financial year, have trained about 4 000 school-going girls between 14 and 18 years of age over the past five years.

In 2018, 187 young girls were trained in coding, expanding to 1 110 by 2021, as Vodacom works to encourage more girls to explore careers that require coding skills in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and industries.

During the 2022 financial year, Vodacom plans to train 1 500 in coding, with 700 currently in the first cohort of the year, which started on June 27. The second cohort will start in October.

Further, the programme expanded its reach beyond South Africa to Mozambique, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Lesotho.

Coding is the process of transforming ideas, solutions and instructions into the language that the computer can understand, using programming languages like JavaScript, Java, C/C++ or Python to act as the translator between humans and machines.

During the two-week-long training course, the high school students are exposed to computer languages, robotics and development programs including HTML, CSS, GitHub and Version control, Bootstrap and JavaScript, Basic Computer and Introduction to Coding.

By the end of the programme, the girls are able to develop their own websites and are required to present their work to the rest of their coding class.

They are also equipped with life skills, including presentation and communication skills.

“The world is becoming increasingly reliant on digital technology, which is why coding skills are so prized. With digital transformation, we are seeing a higher demand for jobs with STEM skills, such as coding,” says Vodacom South Africa human resources director Njabulo Mashigo, who further notes that STEM careers are the jobs of the future that help drive innovation, social wellbeing, inclusive growth and sustainable development in society.

“Most people are not aware that half of all computer programming positions are in industries such as finance, healthcare and manufacturing. Coding has become such a critical skill that it elevates a candidate’s chances not only of landing positions but also of commanding higher salaries,” she points out.

Median wages in STEM careers are more than double those of non-STEM occupations. STEM careers are also expected to grow at more than double the rate of other occupations.

However, not enough women enter STEM careers, with graduates around the world overwhelming male.