Education - Creativity is more important that Counting

It’s widely agreed that Australia must continue to build a world class education system and this is something which we most certainly support.  Part of what we stand for is the fact that know one really knows what the world will look like even a decade from now.  That’s why we need an education system which teaches kids to think laterally, not just literally. 

“In the future, creativity will be more important than counting”

-Sir Kenneth Robinson

Education of course covers such a broad spectrum of learning.  Early childhood education is foundational and working parents need a system which is offers the highest standards of professionalism, care and safety.  The greatest change we see needing to take place in school education is the opportunity for greater diversity of interests and abilities.  Traditional school curriculums cater for a limited spectrum of learning and we see this as severely disadvantaging kids with diverse skill-sets outside the normal realm.  (Think of kids who had tech skills before computers – they never did well at school because their abilities weren’t respected or catered for).  The more diverse we can make our curriculums, the greater opportunities we will create for young Australians. 

Tertiary education is fundamental to a rich, vibrant and prosperous nation.  Obviously providing a world class system is expensive and if there is any one area that our government should be subsidising then it’s here.  Outside the University system we stand for a well funded and vibrant technical college system which teaches a diverse range of practical skills that young people  in order to to gain employment. 

The more diverse our teaching can be, the greater the opportunities for us as a nation to excel and extend into new areas of opportunity.