Acadia’s Robot Programming Competitions Program is aimed at preparing students for jobs of the future by strengthening their math and science skills.

The province has helped fund the program since 2006, investing a total of $40,000 since then.

The latest investment is said to help expand the program.

Shelly Tulloch is a teacher who has introduced the program at Bedford South Elementary School.

“We actually have three teams that are winning awards, and one of them went onto Lego Land to compete in the international open championship,” she says.

Labour and Advanced Education Minister Marilyn More says the unique hands on learning approach offers lots of benefits to students.

“Students all over the province and world are advancing in subjects like science and math, and learning skills like project management and team building,” explains More.

Close to 1,500 youth have participated in the program since it began five years ago.