South Australian Liberal opposition launches entrepreneurial education policy

South Australia’s Liberal opposition wants to turn South Australia into the “start-up state” through an entrepreneurial education policy that will teach high school students business skills.

“We want the next generation of South Australians to be our entrepreneurial generation,” state Liberal leader Steven Marshall says in a statement.

“Entrepreneurship is a key driver of the economy and through our Education Action Agenda, South Australian students will be equipped with the practical knowledge and skills to plan, establish and grow their own business.”

The policy, which comes ahead of the state election due in March next year, aims to create an entrepreneurial curriculum that’ll be offered through three existing high schools.

“This will provide business motivated students with the education opportunities that will best assist them to fulfil and reach their career aspirations,” the policy document says.

“Under our plan, students will graduate with a new understanding of entrepreneurship which will shape their future careers and provide positive long term flow-on effects to South Australian industry. They will be equipped with the practical knowledge and skills to plan, establish and grow a business.”

The document also says the three special entry entrepreneur high schools will be supported by entrepreneurs, business leaders, mentors and organisations that’ll contribute to programs.

“The state Liberals are committed to nurturing our next generation of job creators and business and community leaders by fostering young entrepreneurial minds to drive wealth creation and innovation in South Australia into the future,” opposition education spokesman David Pisoni says in a statement.

“We want our young people to identify local opportunities, contribute to our economy, generate local jobs and stay in SA.”

South Australian Education Minister Jennifer Rankine says in an emailed response to StartupSmart that students can already study business and enterprise related topics through a range of existing subjects.

“There is a specific subject called Business and Enterprise in which students learn about the successful management of business and enterprise on a local, national, and global scale,” she says.

“They gain knowledge and understanding of business operations, develop financial and technological skills, participate in planning, developing, and controlling business activities, and evaluate decisions on business practices.

“It is very popular and enrolments increased from 1444 in 2011 to 1555 in 2012.”