Teaching our Kids for the Jobs of the Future

First published in The Reporter on 22 May 2015

This week, I joined Bill Shorten at Springwood Central State School to discuss Labor’s plans for better science, technology and mathematics education in schools.

Springwood Central is the first state school in Queensland with a Code Club – a volunteer-led after-school club for kids aged 9-11 to learn computer programming.

Coding is the literacy of the 21st Century, and Labor believes every young Australian should have the same opportunity to learn to code as the students at Springwood Central.

A future Labor Government will include coding in the national curriculum and upskill more teachers to offer these classes.

This was one of the policy ideas that Bill outlined in last week’s Budget Reply speech.

At the heart of this vision were plans to give local kids the technological skills and creativity to secure jobs in the future economy.

Our plans for a smarter Australia stand in stark contrast to the Abbott Government’s Budget.

The Liberals still plan to cut money from schools and hospitals, slash family tax benefits and introduce $100,000 degrees.

While the Government is interested in attacks on our community and short-term political fixes, Labor has a plan for Australia’s future success with education and jobs at the core.

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