To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to the Software and Cyber Sectoral Action Plan, to detail any action taken to (i) research global best practice in computing education from primary through to tertiary levels; (ii) assess the applicability of initiatives and policies to the Northern Ireland context; and (iii) implement pilots of the most promising approaches.

My Department has recently developed the Digital Skills Action Plan (2024 – 2034) which outlines challenges and actions that we as a Department, along with Department of Education and industry will undertake to improve digital skills. This includes creating alternative pathways into the digital sector. My officials are working closely alongside Software NI to ensure initiatives and policies remain applicable to industry needs here in the North. My Department along with Department of Education will continue to work to examine the barriers to teaching computer science within the education system.