New Zealand is set for a revised Digital Curriculum next year, but concerns have been raised about whether schools will be prepared for the changes.

From 2020 it will be compulsory for schools to teach digital technologies in years 1-10, with the new curriculum including children as young as five learning basic principles of computer coding.

An Education Review Office report published in August showed the office raised concerns to the Ministry of Education in December 2018, that many schools would not be prepared to start teaching the curriculum by next year.

This week AUT has held its third annual professional development conference giving primary and secondary teachers the chance to upskill ahead of the curriculum changes.

AUT senior lecturer Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh, who led the conference, told Andrew Dickens some teachers are ready and excited - while others are sceptical and unprepared.

"I'm sure that next year will be a transition period while schools become familiar with this implementation. Certainly we do need to provide as much professional development for teachers as possible, they do need support."

She says teachers are being encouraged to utilise digital technologies whenever it's appropriate.

Mohaghegh says it's an important subject to learn as we live in a digital age.

"Really it's about teaching kids problem solving and teaching coding and programme in the traditional meaning of the world. It's not about using computers."