Australia's Minister for Education and Training, Christopher Pyne, today visited Delhi Public School (DPS) to launch a pilot project linking schools in India and Australia.
The Australia-Asia Building Regional Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement, or BRIDGE, connects Australian teachers, students, and school communities with their peers in Asia so they can exchange knowledge.
"The BRIDGE programme connects Australian schools to schools around the world so that students and teachers alike can learn from one another and build lasting cultural ties and skills," Mr. Pyne said.
"I am pleased to be here today to launch BRIDGE at the Delhi Public School and to see them connect live with their partner school, St Francis de Sales, in Mr Barker, in the Adelaide Hills.
"Since it started in 2008, BRIDGE has partnered 243 Australian schools with schools in China, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and now India.
"BRIDGE has, to date, supported professional learning for 754 teachers, and helped teachers in participating countries to visit their partner school.
"Strengthening partnerships between school leaders, teachers, and school communities in India and Australia helps us build strong education relationships and share our ideas and knowledge.
"This initiative aligns with our Draft National Strategy for International Education by boosting people-to-people links and contributes to our communities and scholarly life, building shared understandings and new perspectives," Mr Pyne said.
The Minister was joined for today's launch at the Delhi Public School by Adam Gilchrist AM, Australia's new education Ambassador to India.
"Adam is possibly recognised here in India as well as he is home in Australia, and he will play a crucial role in supporting the growth in the strong bilateral education relationship between Australia and India," Mr. Pyne said.
