On Monday, Education Week kicked off with the theme ‘today’s schools – creating tomorrow’s world’.
The initiative highlights how NSW public schools are equipping young people with the skills and capabilities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing, globalised world.
For the first time the Education Week launch will be hosted by primary school students and will feature student performances as well as a film highlighting how schools are working with their communities to solve real-world problems.
The NSW Secondary Principals’ Council (NSWSPC) president, Chris Presland, said education needs to be seen as “more than just NAPLAN test scores and PISA rankings”.
“Education Week is an occasion to celebrate the evolution of the classroom and I believe NSW public schools are leading the way in equipping students with the problem solving, creativity and communication skills to adapt to new technology and innovative practices,” Presland said.
“By grounding education in real world opportunities, NSW public schools are producing students with highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills ready to take their place as successful and engaged global citizens.”
Presland suggested Education Week was also an opportunity for the broader community to gain a greater insight into the “extraordinary achievements” of teachers and students across the state.
“Our public schools are places of promise, creativity and excitement. This kind of environment doesn’t happen by chance. It is the product of highly skilled teachers engaged in an extremely complex profession,” Presland said.
“The NSW public school system is one of the best education systems in the world and this should be celebrated and recognised by our politicians, our community and the media.”
NSW Education Minister, Rob Stokes, said there had never been a more exciting time to be involved in schools with technology reshaping the way students learn and billions of dollars being invested in new school infrastructure.
“The NSW Department of Education is continually striving for improvement and innovation so that the young people in our care learn in a world-class education system,” Stokes said.
“The NSW Government is supporting that vision through a record $6bn in funding to build the classrooms and schools of the future.”
NSW Education Department secretary, Mark Scott, said ensuring today’s students had the skills they would need to “not just survive, but thrive” in the future underpinned the department’s evidence-based approach to learning.
“I am incredibly proud of the innovative teaching and learning that is being done across our State’s public schools to ensure that every student can perform to their full potential,” Scott said.
“We don’t know what the future will hold, but we do know that we are focused on equipping today’s students with the skills and knowledge they will need to lead fulfilling lives in the future.”
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