Thinking code for problem-solving

With a mission to help solve the youth’s unemployment challenge in South Africa, Zakirah Arends, campus director of WeThinkCode (WTC_) shared more about their software engineering school and how coding can help reduce cyberbullying.

Zakirah said coding equips children with skills they can use to reduce cyberbullying.

“An example is to make use of algorithms that pick up words and phrases that are used on social media which are offensive. In addition these algorithms can also allow victims of bullying to report bullies and have their accounts suspended.”

Germiston High School alumni, Khwezi Luthuli, attends WTC_’s Johannesburg campus.

“We source and develop top software engineers through an open and tuition-free recruitment and training model,” said Arends.

The free programme is open to everyone between the ages of 17 to 35.

“Since our launch in 2016, over 300 of our graduates were employed within South Africa’s corporate sector.

“We have a 98 percent graduate employment rate, with our alumni working across 55 leading South African businesses.

“The school ensures students have two years practical work experience by the time they are absorbed into a full-time placement,” said the Johannesburg campus director.

To achieve their mission, the director said they encourage and foster a culture of high performance, creativity and peer-to-peer learning.

“At WTC_ we encourage social learning. This essentially means learning by watching your peers, interacting with them, and following their lead when performing tasks. This is a highly effective form of learning as it is relatively informal while having low pressure and exposed to high levels of engagement. “

Covid-19

Arends said the extended lockdown disrupted the academic calendar.

“We had to extend this year’s final year by eight weeks. Our most vulnerable students would have been left without a stipend as this was an unplanned expenditure.

“However many voluntarily forfeited their stipends to assist those whose need was greater, enabling us to continue to pay stipends to those in need.

They did this without any pressure from us.

“Some students had a laptop, WiFi and a quiet place to work, while others did not.

“We are an equal-opportunity learning organisation and we had to make sure every one of our 460 students were given the means to continue their learning online.

“Our partners came magnificently to the fore, and generously donated laptops, data and other essential equipment.

“We also offered remote psych-social support and students were able to opt-in for remote counselling sessions and staff made themselves available as an additional layer of support.”

The campus director added that WTC_ is helping to open up an economically sound career path to young South Africans.

“This is a national investment in developing new technology solutions. Teaching South Africans how they can play a role in this development will go a long way in fostering more economic opportunity and equality for the majority of citizens living below the national poverty line. “

“Applicants are not required to have any prior qualifications,” said Arends,

For more information visit the WeThinkCode_ website on www.wethinkcode.co.za

Contact the newsroom by emailing:

Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,  or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za , and Lebogang Sekgwama lebogangs@caxton.co.za.