The Victorian Government in Australia launched a new Digital Technologies curriculum to help students in schools hone their digital coding and critical thinking skills.
Understanding the need to equip the next generation with digital skills from a young age, ‘Digital Technologies’ focuses on developing students’ thought processes in order to unravel problems, and design and generate digital solutions.
The new Victorian curriculum incorporates a strong focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills. It will be implemented in government and Catholic schools this year.
Minister for Education James Merlino said, “We want all Victorian kids to have the opportunity to develop the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Minister Merlino and Member for Sydenham Natalie Hutchins conducted a tour of Taylors Lakes Primary School’s new Coding and Technology space to mark the launch. The school will draw on funding it has received under the Andrews Labor Government’s $566 million equity funding boost for schools to employ a full-time specialist coding teacher in 2017.
The current Victorian Government is investing $21.6 million to support teachers implementing the new curriculum. Ambitious targets include a 25% increase in the number of year nine students reaching the highest level of achievement in maths and 33% more 15-year-olds reaching the highest levels in science.
$125 million is being invested by the Government to create 10 Tech Schools. They will provide a shared campus for students from neighbouring secondary schools to access leading edge technology and resources for STEM subjects.
There is also a STEM Catalysts initiative for training 60 teachers across 30 secondary schools to become experts. Then they can help fellow teachers bring science, technology, engineering and maths alive for Year 7 and 8 students.
Read the Media Release here.