Productivity Commission asks govt to take lead role in edtech, AI development
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The news: The Productivity Commission (PC) is encouraging the federal government to coordinate with state and territory counterparts to ensure new AI tools are developed specifically for Australian schools and made widely available to all students.
The suggestion is one of many draft proposals in a new interim report from the PC focused on skills, training and schools.
"Outside of states that are developing their own tools, schools are left on their own to find a GenAI tool or be completely excluded from the benefits," a new interim report from the PC says.
"A national process to develop advanced edtech tools could draw on greater bargaining power than any school, sector or jurisdiction could have on its own, reducing the cost per school and student."
Recommendations: The PC has made numerous recommendations including encouraging national education bodies to “coordinate acquisition of AI tools for national use, drawing on the combined purchasing power of all states and territories” and for the federal government to provide national leadership on AI in schools.
It also recommends the government target incentives towards lifting work-related training at small and medium businesses by introducing financial incentives, such as tax credits, and advisory support services. The PC is also recommending a shift towards a national system of credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.
The PC also seeks to get state and territory regulators to “eliminate occupational entry regulations” that exist in their area but not others and it wants expanded entry pathways and streamlined qualification requirements for occupations where possible.
The context: The PC is releasing five interim reports ahead of the federal government's upcoming August Economic Reform Roundtable.
This latest report, focused on building a skilled and adaptable workforce, is the fourth to be released and focuses on reforms to secondary and post-secondary education and to occupational entry requirements.
In terms of school student outcomes, the PC recommends the government invest in a single national platform that teachers can use to access lesson planning materials, and lead national efforts to ensure “equitable access” to educational technology and AI.
What they said: “As the pace of change in work and technology continues to accelerate, we need to ensure that workers can acquire the skills they’ll need to thrive,” said PC deputy chair Alex Robson.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in a statement that investments and reforms to boost human capital are a "big part" of lifting productivity and "helping workers around the country earn more and keep more of what they earn".
The sources: Productivity Commission interim report, Treasurer media statement
