Digital literacy on the rise as coding winners announced

After receiving a record number of entries, the winners of the Premier’s Coding Challenge have been announced.

Students across Queensland were challenged to create an innovative coding solution to raise cybersafety awareness, or help make Queenslanders safer online, under the 2019 competition theme #cybersafeqld.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk praised the digital literacy of the next generation of Queenslanders.

“Digital literacy is a skill that is essential to equip our students to successfully navigate the emerging economies of a globally connected world,” she said.

“For the students of today, and for all Queenslanders, cybersafety is a critical element of our online engagement.

“That’s why the 2019 theme, #cybersafeqld, builds and expands on last year’s Stand Up to Cyberbullies competition message.

Education Minister Grace Grace presented the awards for the 2019 Premier’s Coding Challenge at Ferny Grove State High School.

Ms Grace said 24 successful students shared $10,000 worth of robotics and electronics prizes either as individuals or members of two-person teams.

“This is the third year of the Premier’s Coding Challenge, which goes from strength to strength,” she said.

“The inaugural challenge in 2017 attracted 140 registrations.

“That increased to 257 in 2018, and this year registrations were almost triple that at 762.

“Thanks to our schools’ implementation of the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies, students’ genuine enthusiasm for the subject is growing.

“This coding challenge is just one Palaszczuk Government initiative that addresses the importance of equipping students with the skills they’ll need for jobs of the future.”

For more information including the list of winners visit the #codingcounts website, https://advancingeducation.qld.gov.au/codingcounts.

Media contact: Brock Taylor – 0427 018 178