The federal government has denied that a new initiative to strengthen ties between schools and industry amounts to the corporatisation of education in Australia.

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane insists the move, announced on Tuesday as part of the government’s industry innovation and competitiveness agenda, is to ensure school’s create job-ready graduates.

The new schools training strategy will dedicate $500,000 to a pilot program called Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH).

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says some schools can specialise in topics like science, technology, engineering and maths in partnership with related businesses.

• Simplified curriculum expected
• Private schools spark ‘pay what you can’ debate

However, the Australian Education Union complains the scheme amounts to the corporatisation of schools.

“Australian schools have, over a long period of time, established links with industries and businesses but we have never allowed companies … to actually have a direct involvement in what students are taught or the way schools are run,” AEU federal president Angelo Gavrielatos said.

Mr Macfarlane said the government was addressing complaints the current system wasn’t producing job-ready school leavers.

“This is certainly not corporatisation of the education system,” he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

“Companies that need people trained in the skills of science and technology, engineering and maths are the companies that are saying to us we need better qualified people. They’ll be the companies we look for.”

– with AAP