Deputy Principal

Last week I hosted the Deputy Principals and the Heads of the Flexible Schools Network from the Eastern Region here at St Patrick’s College for an afternoon of discussion on how we can improve the outcomes for the young men and women in our care. As part of the discussion, we listened to Fernando M. Reimers (Harvard University Professor of Practice in International Education) on the Futures of Education. He was a keynote speaker at the recent ‘Edmund Rice Education – Beyond Boarders Global Congress’. 

In his speech, he challenged us as educators to adapt traditional education environments which occur in schools like St Patrick’s to change. In NSW the curriculum is very traditional, and we must ensure that the young men that leave our gates for the final time can adapt to a global society and have competencies behind them that allow them to succeed not only in Australia but in countries all around the world. 

Reimers encourages us to ensure that the students who we are educating have knowledge and skills in several key areas including: 

1. Economics and trade 

2. Culture 

3. Politics 

4. Science, technology, innovation and globalisation 

5. Public health 

6. Demography 

7. Business entrepreneurship as well as social entrepreneurship.

This is a challenge for all of us in the St Patrick’s community. Tradition does not mean we have to do things traditionally, and we must not seek change but lead change and adapt our systems to change so that our graduates have the skills to lead and thrive in our global community.

Adrian Byrne

Deputy Principal