Google.org Gives Schools Plus Big Funding Boost

Pioneered by David Gonski, Schools Plus has received $3m from Google.org to fund educational initiatives for children and young people from less advantaged backgrounds.

The funding will support Schools Plus’ work preparing around 10,000 Australian children with vital digital literacy skills, including innovative technologies such as responsible AI, and the critical thinking skills and dispositions for learning that are required for the 21st-century workplace.

Schools Plus works with teachers and schools in disadvantaged areas, giving them funding, coaching and resources to implement bespoke projects that will help their students succeed. 

The grant enables teachers to build further capacity and confidence in STEM teaching practices while building important connections between schools, universities, and work environments.

Schools Plus was founded following a recommendation in the first Gonski Review, which identified a need for philanthropic funding in schools to help close the education gap caused by disadvantage, in some areas disadvantaged students an average of three years behind their peers

Comedian, mathematics guru and Schools Plus ambassador Adam Spencer, said: “Inspiring a new generation of students in STEM is what this is all about. Unlike my parents before me, I was fortunate to win a scholarship to a private school at a time when I didn’t even know private schools existed. It’s what made me incredibly passionate about helping other students get ahead in their studies and gain access to the best possible opportunities. 

“There aren’t many things that can’t be solved through mathematics, but one thing you cannot measure is the exponential impact that closing the education gap will have on not just an individual, but their family and community,” he said.

Rosemary Conn, CEO of Schools Plus, said, “Google.org’s generous contribution will be instrumental in helping Schools Plus close the education gap that exists in Australia today, and will make a real difference in the lives of students. To date, Schools Plus has helped 500,000 students. This funding will enable us to help a substantially greater number of children and young people and equip them for lifelong learning” she said.

Melanie Silva, Managing Director of Google Australia, said, “This will help Schools Plus, who we’ve been working with for six years, to develop an innovative new program that supports kids in some of our most disadvantaged areas. It’s going to help them get ready - with creative and critical thinking skills - to jump into the STEM-related jobs our economy needs most.”