For centuries, important parts of education have remained such as reading, writing and maths. With the advent of computers, some people think that computer skill be made as a fourth skill to be added to the list. To what extent do you agree?

I am of the personal belief that digital
literacy
should be considered as a fourth essential skill of education, alongside reading, writing, numeracy, and mathematics, and
such
an opinion is largely based on the reasons elaborated below. Basically, I believe that
computers
and digital technology have become increasingly pervasive in society and have revolutionised many aspects of people's lives, including communication, access to information, and problem-solving.
This
, I suppose, can be best exemplified by the fact that in a study carried out by the University of Shahid Beheshti in the city of Tehran in 2007 on graduated
students
, it was seen that 80% of
students
have
computer
skills
that navigate them to the modern world effectively.
Furthermore
, it has been said that a number of industries now require
computer
skills
, and specific
computer
-related
skills
are increasingly in demand. From basic
computer
literacy
to more specialised
skills
such
as programming or data analysis,
computer
skills
improve employment prospects and career progression, and I cannot but agree with
such
an opinion, as best illustrated by an article written in the Journal of Business Development, in which it was stated that the job market has been heavily influenced by digital technology. Another point to be considered is the fact that, in the digital age, the ability to use
computers
and the Internet responsibly is important for digital citizenship. Digital
literacy
includes not only technical
skills
, but
also
critical thinking, information
literacy
, online safety, and ethical considerations.
For example
,
according to
Dr John Kersey of Harvard University, "Teaching digital
literacy
helps individuals become more responsible digital citizens and navigate the online world effectively.
Finally
, I would like
to conclude
by saying that
computers
and technology are powerful tools that enhance learning in traditional subjects
such
as reading, writing, numeracy,and mathematics. Integrating digital
literacy
into the curriculum enables
students
to explore subjects in new and engaging ways.
For example
,
according to
Dr David Gibson of Cambridge University," Coding develops reasoning and problem-solving
skills
,
while
digital tools facilitate research and collaboration. In conclusion, based on the aforementioned argument, I must reiterate that I believe that the development of
computers
as the fourth skill is complementary and integrated into fundamental
skills
such
as reading, writing, numeracy, and mathematics in preparing
students
for the future.
Submitted by maryam.veiszadeh on

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