Memo to Bill Shorten: Time to do your homework on computer coding and STEM
18 May 2015
Media release It is very clear the Leader of the Opposition failed to do his homework before his recent Budget Reply speech, with work on the critical areas of STEM and computer coding in Australian schools already well underway.
The Australian Government is investing $3.5 million to ensure that all students have the opportunity to study computer coding in both primary and high school.
Minister for Education and Training the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said the investment is part of the $12 million Industry, Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda to support the teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
“Bill Shorten’s thought bubble on coding is more evidence that he hasn’t properly developed a coherent, costed and deliverable policy on education,” Mr Pyne said.
“The Government has already mapped out a strategy, working with the states and territories, to address issues such as expanding and supporting the teaching of computer coding in schools.
“The Coalition Government is determined to ensure our schools give young Australians the skills both they and Australian businesses need to succeed in the highly competitive, high-tech, 21st century,” Mr Pyne said.
“We know that as computer driven smart-technology expands into every aspect of our recreational and working lives, there is an ever growing need for highly skilled workers in this global growth industry. All children will need to understand computational thinking and how it can contribute to their future.
“We are investing in computer coding across different year levels in Australian schools, and STEM education more broadly to ensure young Australians and our nation can grasp the opportunities the high-tech future offers.”
The inclusion of computer coding in the curriculum draws on successful programmes in schools in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Government, through the Department of Education and Training, has been undertaking consultations with key STEM stakeholders – such as university computer science faculties and ICT companies such as Telstra, Intel and Google – in relation to the most effective way to put coding into the curriculum to ensure it is of maximum benefit to students.
“The Government has already undertaken initial work to analyse the quality of available teaching resources, to locate any gaps that need filling and to look at current and emerging teaching approaches from around the globe,” Mr Pyne said.
“We are looking at world’s best practice in coding and STEM education so that our curriculum remains at the leading edge and to give Australian students and businesses the best chance of success into the future.”
The $12 million Industry, Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda, announced in October 2014 will foster school students’ interest and competency in STEM by:
- developing and implementing innovative online curriculum resources in mathematics;
- enhancing computer programming skills across the curriculum;
- providing seed funding to pilot an innovation-focused ‘P-TECH’ styled secondary education initiative; and
- increasing student participation through ‘Summer schools for STEM students’.
These investments in coding and STEM are part of the Australian Government’s Students Firstapproach under which the Government is focussing on four key areas that will make a difference to students:
- teacher quality
- school autonomy
- parental engagement
- strengthening the curriculum.