Now in its 78th year, Education Week is a chance to celebrate the achievements of our schools.

After Covid lockdowns and home-schooling, parents across the state have a new level of respect for teachers and their dedication.

This year also marks 150 years of Public Education in Victoria.

Victoria was the first state in Australia – and one of the first in the world – to make education free, secular and compulsory to all children aged 6-15. Around 600 schools opened across the state in the five years following the passing of the Education Act in 1872.

The milestone is being marked with a range of activities across the year designed to commemorate the past, celebrate the present and imagine the future of education.

A dedicated Victorian Government website will feature the 483 original government schools from 1872 alongside every other government school established since, displaying a selection of digitally preserved historical records from the past 150 years including school history summaries, enrolment registers and photos.

There are undoubtedly thousands more historical gems yet to be uncovered to tell Victoria’s long and proud education history – and anyone with photos, documents or other vintage school treasures is encouraged to email them to 150years@education.vic.gov.au to help build this digital time capsule.

More than 6,500 archive boxes have already been collected and digitised from schools around Victoria.

For more information on the 150 Years of Public Education milestone, visit www.vic.gov.au/150years.