Debugging is a really important skill for Year 9 Computer Science students. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Building Blocks of Programming: Debugging helps students understand how programming works. Studies show that about 70% of the time spent on programming goes toward finding and fixing errors. Realizing that mistakes are normal in coding makes students more eager to learn.

2. Thinking Skills: Debugging also helps students become better thinkers. When they debug, they look closely at their code and figure out what went wrong by breaking problems into smaller pieces. This skill is helpful in many subjects, not just computer science.

3. Spotting Mistakes: Students learn to find different kinds of errors in their code:

   • Syntax Errors: These are mistakes in the way the code is written that stop it from working.
   • Runtime Errors: These happen when you try to run the code, but something goes wrong.
   • Logical Errors: These make the code run, but the results are incorrect.

4. Understanding the Big Picture: Research shows that nearly 40% of software projects fail because of poor debugging. If students learn how to debug correctly, they can get better at programming and help their projects succeed.

5. Real-World Importance: Debugging is a key skill in the tech world. According to a survey by Stack Overflow, more than 90% of developers do debugging regularly, showing how important it is for their jobs.

In short, learning how to debug gives students important skills that will help them do well in school and in future tech careers.