$6.7 million Liberal National Government investment in robotics and coding
New technologies curriculum for 2018
29 schools teaming up with internationally renowned 'The Innovation Unit'
Robots, coding apps and electronic circuitry will soon be commonplace in public primary school classrooms to boost science, technology, engineering and mathematics - known as STEM.
Visiting Ashdale Primary School today, Education Minister Peter Collier said the Liberal National Government was investing $2.7 million in new teaching and learning resources for all public primary schools.
The Government would also provide a further $4 million in new STEM teaching and learning resources for all public primary and secondary schools.
"In 2018, all primary schools will include digital technologies in their classrooms, and the Government will provide resource packs suitable for all public Kindergarten to Year 6 students across the State," Mr Collier said.
"With robotics and computer coding used in many contemporary and emerging industries, it is vital for students to learn skills in these areas."
The Minister said 29 Western Australian public schools were also teaming up with internationally renowned social enterprise 'The Innovation Unit' to develop and test innovative teaching practices in STEM.
"These schools will encourage teachers to experiment, create and evaluate new practices for teaching STEM to students before they are shared more widely to schools," he said.
The Government will provide professional learning for school leaders and teachers to help them teach the new STEM curriculum.
Fact File
600 leaders and teachers from 300 schools will attend a four-day professional learning on coding
All 697 public schools with primary-aged students will be provided with technologies materials, including programmable, interactive robots, electronic engineering resources to create real world projects and touch tablet devices preloaded with numerous coding apps
The Innovation Unit is a not-for-profit social enterprise with a record of supporting innovation in education
Minister's office - 6552 6300
