Scottish schoolchildren are to be taught the basics of video game design as part of the country’s new national curriculum - dubbed the 'Curriculum of Excellence'.

According to the Press Association, the move is to designed to ‘create the next generation of young programmers’.

Schools minister Maureen Watt unveiled the scheme this morning, and added that the new lessons will teach children how to use computer software to create animations and feature films.

According to the Scottish Herald, the country’s games industry employs more than 500 people and generates £20m a year.

Watt, Minister for Schools and Skills, said:

"There is huge confidence that Scotland will continue to play an important part in the future of video games and interactive entertainment and we are focusing on establishing firm foundations for lifelong learning and, for some, specialised study and careers.

"A key aim of Curriculum for Excellence is to produce informed, skilled, adaptable and enterprising citizens of the future.

"The pace of change in the world means that we should be equipping young people with the skills to embrace and use all the tools of modern life."

She added: "The draft outcomes for our new curriculum are intended to help teachers make teaching more relevant, exciting and engaging. Technologies are important areas of the whole learning process and we are keen to receive feedback on the outcomes from professionals."