Hessen wants to improve the digital skills of schoolchildren.
For this purpose, the “Digital World” pilot project will be launched in September from the new school year in twelve secondary schools in the state with around 70 grade five classes, as Minister of Education Alexander Lorz (CDU) announced on Monday in Wiesbaden.
The new subject is intended to combine basic skills in computer science with economic and ecological education.
According to the minister, two voluntary additional school hours per week are planned for the pilot project.
Based on concrete tasks from the fields of economy and ecology, basics such as programming or the functioning of algorithms are to be taught.
The subject will also address important issues such as data protection, cybercrime and media use.
"We hope to be able to make computer science particularly clear and realistic for the students."
"Our common goal is to enable schools to introduce all students to the digital world and to fully prepare them for working life," added Digital Minister Kristina Sinemus (CDU).
The pilot project is carried out in cooperation with the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam and is scientifically supported by the Goethe University in Frankfurt.