Building a BRIDGE between Australian and Indian schools

24 Aug 2015 Media release

The Minister for Education and Training, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP today visited Delhi Public School to launch a pilot project linking schools in India and Australia.

“I am pleased to be here today to launch BRIDGE at the Delhi Public School and particularly to witness students connecting live with Australian students in their partner school, St Francis de Sales at Mt Barker in my home state of South Australia,” Mr Pyne said.

“I am delighted that my colleague the Hon Jamie Briggs MP, the Member for Mayo, has joined us for this launch at St Francis de Sales.”

The Minister was joined for today’s launch at the Delhi Public School by cricketing great and education advocate Adam Gilchrist AM, Australia’s new education Ambassador to India.

“Adam is recognised here in India at least as well as he is at home in Australia, and he will play a crucial role strengthening the bilateral education relationship between Australia and India,” Mr Pyne said.

The Australia–Asia Building Relationships through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement, or BRIDGE, connects Australian teachers, students, and school communities with their peers in Asia so they can exchange knowledge.

“The BRIDGE programme allows students and teachers to learn from one another and build lasting cultural ties and skills,” Mr Pyne said.

“Since it started in 2008, BRIDGE has partnered 243 Australian schools with schools in China, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and now India.

“BRIDGE has, to date, supported professional learning for 754 teachers.

“It has helped teachers in participating countries to visit their partner school.

“Strengthening partnerships between school leaders, teachers, and school communities in both countries helps us build strong education relationships and share ideas and knowledge.”

He said the initiative aligns with Australia’s National Strategy for International Education in that it boosts people-to-people links and contributes to our communities and scholarly life,” Mr Pyne said.