GONE are the days where the three Rs – reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmatic- dominate our education.
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Without a doubt these are important academic requirements which should remain a key part of learning. But there is an impressive new era of education which offers much more.
The education powers-that-be have recognised that the skills and abilities of young people vary. Equally the career paths that can be taken are extensive – not everyone wants to be a doctor, lawyer, nurse or teacher. As such the curriculum has taken a much-needed redesign in recent years.
The end result is a more extensive choice of subjects now offered in most primary and secondary schools. It is a move intent on providing broader learning opportunities that nurture additional talents of young people, better preparing them for career paths that tweak the interests of the individual.
It begins with offerings such as veggie gardening and cooking opportunities in many primary schools. You need look no further than Berrima Public School with its commercial kitchen to realise the potential.
Meanwhile the concept of Vocational Education and Training courses such as construction, hospitality and primary industries, to name a few, are being offered in most secondary schools. These are providing youth with the opportunities to enhance their abilities in areas that best suit them.
At a time when there is a massive shortfall of young people taking on a trade when they leave school VET courses such as construction are an invaluable boost to the industry. According to the ABIS the building and construction industry faces a skills shortage of 45,000 workers in the next three years.
A VET course in construction has the potential to better prepare young people for a career path in the building industry, making young people more employable when they leave school.
The Cows Create Careers program currently on offer at Chevalier College is another great concept designed to hone in on the interests of students, boost their skill levels and better prepare them for a career path that best suits the individual.
Such forward-thinking helps young people to better recognise what career opportunities are available and provides them with an insight into such careers.
The end result will hopefully be a generation of people who head out to work each day doing what they love to do rather than simply working to pay the bills.
