JOONDALUP Education Support Centre will receive $10,000 from the State Government to buy science equipment.
The school is among more than 60 small public primary schools with less than 100 students that will receive a science resources grant to buy equipment such as telescopes, salinity testing kits, raised garden beds, lego kits, solar or photovoltaic cell kits and petri dishes.
Burns Beach MLA Mark Folkard said the aim was to “ignite an interest in science in WA students from a young age”.
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READ NOW“These grants will help the Joondalup Education Support Centre to grow its science program with the help of modern classroom equipment,” he said.
The resources will help students develop skills like teamwork, problem solving, creativity, independent thinking, critical analysis, initiative and communication.
Education Minister Sue Ellery said the investment would also ensure teachers had access to equipment that allowed them to deliver STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) subjects in an exciting and innovative way for students.
“We want our young people to develop an interest in science that continues throughout their schooling, and puts them in the best possible place to take up the job opportunities of the future,” she said.
Science Minister Dave Kelly added that by 2030, it is estimated workers will “spend double the amount of time solving problems and 77 per cent more time using science and mathematics skills”.
Merriwa Education Support Centre and Waddington Primary School in Koondoola will also receive funding.