Minister for Education Selena Uibo today launched the STEM in the NT strategy, a five year plan to ensure Territory students are equipped with the skills they need for the jobs of the future.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are crucial areas of learning for school children, with an estimated 75 per cent of the fastest growing occupations worldwide requiring skills and knowledge in these fields.
The STEM in the NT strategy is a response to the National STEM School Education Strategy, an Australia-wide push to help school kids build stronger skills in these areas.
The Department of Education has partnered with the University of Adelaide to provide teachers with support to increase their skills and knowledge in digital technologies.
In addition, the strategy will work with schools to:
- increase teacher capacity to maintain currency in digital literacies
- ensure all young people in the NT are equipped with coding skills as an emerging essential literacy
- expand enterprise education and innovation programs so students receive advice and training in newly emerging industries
- implement a system-wide culture of data driven practice in STEM education
- implement professional learning opportunities for teachers and educators in STEM education and pedagogy
The STEM in the NT strategy delivers on three of the Territory Labor Governments education election commitments relating to digital literacy, coding and enterprise education and innovation.
As stated by Minister for Education, Selena Uibo.
The Territory Labor Government is equipping our students with the skills to live and work in the 21st Century; to not only consume digital technology but to produce it as well.
We know that investing in our children is not just the right thing to do it is the smart thing to do. We want the NT to be the most improved education system in the country and we know that prioritising STEM investment is a big part of this.
Since coming to government, we have opened a new $12.7 million Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Centre at Taminmin College, and construction is also underway on the $15.9 million STEAM Centre at Darwin High School.
Unlike the CLP Government who cut teacher numbers and slashed the education budget, we are investing a record $1.14 billion in education and delivering on our election commitment around STEM in schools.
