MILLICENT High School students will now have access to advanced technology and new digital learning spaces following the official opening of the $2.5m STEM facility on Wednesday.
South Australian Education Minister John Gardner formally opened the new facility – which will feature a robotics laboratory and a laser cutter – yesterday morning alongside Millicent High School principal John Shelton and Member for MacKillop Nick McBride.
Mr Gardner said the facility was appropriate for students who will face a new job market due to advances in technology and digital disruption.
“The way that education is going is different to when I was at school,” Mr Gardner said to the assembled crowd, which included Millicent High students and staff, Wattle Range mayor Des Noll, chief executive Ben Gower and members of the school’s governing council.
“The world has changed enormously in the 25 years since I had left school.
“None of the thousands, the millions of jobs that exist now because of the internet had been invented yet.
“And some of the careers that were around in my time do not exist anymore.”
Mr Gardner compared the latest digital technology in the STEM centre to VHS tapes which was considered ‘cutting-edge’ in the 1990s.
“The opportunity to use technology in the classroom is not only a great opportunity but a necessity,” he said.
“Because the world that you (students) are growing up in not only expects you to know how to use technology but how to get the most out of it.
“People think the world is uncertain but I think that’s too much of a deficit way of thinking.
“We do not not every job that is going to be available to you.
“We know there’s going to be incredible opportunities in the defence industry for example, but we know there’s going to be spaces for you, positions that even five years ago were not thought possible.”
Mr Gardner said the primary industries would value STEM skills as well as the space industry, which is set to play a significant role in South Australia’s future.
He thanked the staff for their work in guiding the students, joining principal Mr Shelton who spoke earlier about staff encouraging students to get positive results.
“Back in 2005 the staff and myself had visions for this facility,” he said.
“It’s been shaped over the years by new ideas in technology and new ideas in teaching and pedagogy.
“And I believe that it has turned out really well.”
Mr Shelton said the flexibility of both the classroom and presentation space was one of the key assets of the facility.
After the official unveiling Mr Gardner toured the school with staff and government officials and spoke with the students about what they had been working on.
The architect of the centre was Grieve Gillett Pty Ltd and the builder was Steplen Constructions Pty Ltd, with construction starting on February 28, 2018.
