Romania has plans to introduce a pilot program of coding lessons in some school cycles, Alexandru Petrescu, the communications minister, told Mediafax in an interview. The measure is part of several, including tax deductions, meant to ensure the needed workforce in the IT sector.

“There are plans to improve the pupils’ and students’ specialization and of those looking to rethink their profession. There are programs we discussed with the Education Ministry, beyond the labor force specialization. This is the third year we maintained the income tax exemption for programmers, for those working in IT. This exemption is reflected in higher incomes and I hope that many Romanians, who maybe left the country some time ago, will again find a professional option in returning to Romania. An important number already do but I hope that more and more will think that they can make a good living by working in IT in Romania,” Petrescu told Mediafax.

According to the minister, children could start learning programming early on in school.

“There are talks regarding the improvement of the educational program, the introduction of coding lessons, programming lessons early on. The intention is to launch a pilot in some school cycles,” Petrescu said.

Some 200,000 people are estimated to work in the country’s IT sector.

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