Tech school opens soon

THE new Geelong Tech School is expected to be officially opened next month.

Geelong MP Christine Couzens said the school’s official opening was planned for September, and slated to be ready for students at the start of the next school year.

Education Minister James Merlino announced the new $10 million building, located at The Gordon, in 2016.

Mr Merlino said at the time the school would “create an important partnership between industry, TAFE and university — connecting Geelong students to their futures”.

The Geelong school is one of 10 announced statewide under the State Government’s Tech Schools initative.

Students from Geelong’s non-government and government school will be able to use the hi-tech facility.

“It’s fantastic . . . (it’s giving) students the opportunity to experience a state-of-the-art facility that’s looking at the whole STEM side of things, but also jobs of the future, and working with industry,” Ms Couzens said.

“Industry bodies have been very heavily involved in the whole process.

“It’s really progressed, and it’s this great partnership that’s developed.

“So students can actually work with industry to solve problems. We’re really excited about it.

“It’s giving young people the experience to come in here one day a week or one day a fortnight, and work with the industry on particular areas of interest.”

Ms Couzens said the fit-out of the school’s interior would take place in the lead-up to the start of school next year.

The Geelong Tech School will be accommodated in the second and third storeys of the new building, at the corner of Little Malop St and Latrobe Terrace.

The ground floor will be a multipurpose level, all under the administration of The Gordon Institute of TAFE.