Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Students from eight secondary schools in Gippsland now have access to the latest technology and innovative learning programs, with the opening of the new Gippsland Tech School.

Minister for Education James Merlino today joined Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney to officially open the Gippsland Tech School – the fourth of 10 Tech Schools to open under the Andrews Labor Government’s $128 million Tech School initiative.

The new Gippsland Tech School includes a high-tech skills laboratory, a fabrication room and a maker space for students to get hands-on experience using specialised high-tech STEM equipment.

The Tech School is located at Federation Training Morwell next to the upcoming Latrobe Valley’s $17 million Hi-Tech Precinct which will give local schools access to the latest technology to use as part of their classes – creating new opportunities for students.

The high-tech hands on programs will be offered free to more than 5,000 students from the eight government, catholic and independent schools and the applied STEM skills align with the work of local industries predicted to experience economic and employment growth in the area, such as food and fibre, health, new energy and advanced manufacturing.

Tech Schools are part of the Labor Government’s plan to boost performance in STEM subjects, including a 25 per cent increase in the number of Year 9 students reaching the highest level of achievement in mathematics and 33 per cent more 15-year-olds reaching the highest levels in science.

Quotes Attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“We need our students to be ready for the jobs of the future and that is why we are investing in Tech Schools so they can have hands-on learning with technology they otherwise would not have been able to.”

“The Gippsland Tech School will form an important link between our schools, TAFEs, universities and industry.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney

“The Tech School will give students the opportunity to solve real-world problems in a real-world context while they are still at secondary school.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“The new Gippsland Tech School is a true community achievement that will focus on cutting-edge science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. Its direct links to Gippsland industry will drive employment pathways for people from all over our region and this is a huge vote of confidence in our future.”