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Victoria’s brightest state school students will be able to put their minds to the test with extra programs on subjects including botany, coding, music and dance as part of a $75 million state government funding package.
Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ben Carroll will announce the investment in free extension and enrichment programs for students from prep to year 12 on Wednesday.
A new five-day maths camp program will also give high-achieving year 9 and 10 students access to advanced learning. Priority for the camps will be granted to rural, regional and disadvantaged students.
Carroll will announce the funding in Melbourne at The Age Schools Summit, where the state’s leading educators and policymakers will gather to tackle the most pressing challenges and opportunities in Victorian education.
The $75 million pledge will fund the programs for the next three school years, with 75,000 places in extension and enrichment activities for students from prep to year 12, and 48,000 places for year 5 to year 8 students in a 10-week online enrichment program in English and maths through the Victorian High-Ability Program.
Carroll’s fellow keynote speakers at this year’s summit include opposition education spokesman Brad Rowswell, Department of Education deputy secretary David Howes and Australian Education Research Organisation chief executive Jenny Donovan.
The extension and enrichment programs link high-achieving students with universities and not-for-profit organisations to deliver hands-on learning in subjects including philosophy, coding, writing, botany, 3D printing, sports science, music and dance.
The students go on excursions, take part in masterclasses, take on design challenges, attend leadership summits and participate in online tutorials through organisations such as Deakin University, the Arts Centre and the Mathematical Association of Victoria.
Craigieburn Secondary College student Jorra Singh participated in one of the extension programs through an excursion last year.
The 17-year-old took part in a cybersecurity challenge in which students explored how hackers attempt to crack passwords. The students tried to spot and prevent breaches.
“It was really fun … I’m genuinely interested in computers, coding and all that sort of stuff,” Jorra, who is now studying VCE, said.
He hopes other young people will also get the opportunity to take part in the free programs offered to students who excel and is considering applying for a computer science course once he finishes secondary school. He credits part of his interest to the cybersecurity course.
Carroll said the funding would allow all students, no matter their background, to reach their full potential.
“We have bright and aspirational students in every corner of this state – this investment makes sure they get the free opportunities they deserve to extend their learning.”
The government will also fund maths camps this year, with the five-day programs to give high-achieving year 9 and 10 students access to maths enrichment.
The student excellence program was introduced in 2020, and more than 315,000 students have participated in opportunities to enhance their abilities.
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