Education in Queensland is about to get a digital boost.

From next year, robotics and computer coding classes will be introduced in both primary and secondary schools.

Jacob Shaw reports.

TRANSCRIPT

The classroom of the future is now.

Under a state government plan, most school children in Queensland are about to be introduced to emerging technologies.

It’ll start in prep.

Annastacia Palaszczuk, Qld Premier: “We need to be part of the global economy. The world is changing.”

The “Coding Counts” initiative will also put a greater emphasis on learning foreign languages in a bid to make Queensland students global citizens.

Kate Jones, Minister for Education: “We want every child, from prep, to start learning a language and being exposed to cultural studies.”

Teachers say it makes sense and are excited about what it means for these students when they enter the workforce.

Sean Perkins, Robotics Teacher, Kedron State High School: “To be able to facilitate creativity and productivity for students in the 21st century in this fashion is just going to lead to great things in the future.”

With half of jobs in the future requiring a higher level of digital education, the government hopes this initiative will give students the skills they need to succeed.

The initiative rolls out over the next four years.

It’ll be part of the curriculum in every school by 2020.

Jacob Shaw, QUT News.