Technology is taking over the universe and it is key to note that this change is led by programmers. There's basically no phase of development that some point does not require the application of logic. So to answer your question,

Yes, in the near or far future, programming will be offered independently or added to the school curriculum and it will be best for the world at large.

Further more, I strongly support the introduction of programming and logic to children as it opens them towards what they would love in a form of a career. Given that children love playing with their hands and imagining or creating things, introducing them into this is a great step as we see these kids becoming professionally inclined and technologically motivated and educated even before they make a career choice.

It's high time they learn what makes up their world. It's high time they were taught that everything they own (video games, devices, laptops etc) is based on some algorithm developed by someone somewhere and they too can do it. In fact, they too can make their own world.