Engineering goes to primary schools.

Federal Government Media Release

Yankalilla Area School students are among the first in South Australia to take part in an innovative pilot program that introduces engineering concepts to primary school students.

Minister for education and training Simon Birmingham visited Yankalilla Area School to launch the Engineering is Elementary  pilot program in South Australia.

Minister Birmingham said Yankalilla Area School was one of 88 schools across South Australia, Queensland and the ACT to participate in the pilot program.

“The Turnbull Government is committed to improving the STEM skills of young Australians through innovative and forward-thinking programs such as Engineering is Elementary,” Mr Birmingham said.

“Whilst there are numerous valuable programs that promote science, technology or maths in our schools, this one stands out for its primary focus on engineering skills and concepts.

“If we can spark a student’s interest in engineering concepts from an early age, this should drive more students to pursue related subjects throughout their school years and possibly into further study or training.”

The program aims to start the pathway for the next generation of engineers who will help to design and build everything from bridges to future submarines.

The Engineering is Elementary program aims to provide teachers with a framework to deliver STEM content that can engage students by using engineering solutions to tackle real world problems. Originally created by the Boston Museum of Science in the United States, the program has been tailored for Australian schools by Questacon, Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre.

As part of the Engineering is Elementary program, teachers will participate in workshops delivered by Questacon, as well as receive resource kits, in-class support and access to online support materials including activities and class observation videos.