Every primary school should have at least one specialist science teacher under a plan to prevent the economy being weakened by a lack of critically important skills.
Dedicated science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers are among the recommendations in a plan delivered on Tuesday by Australia's chief scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, to address a serious decline in Australia's research and technical abilities.
Mandatory study of science and the establishment of a new Australian Innovation Board also feature in the plan, which identifies competitiveness, education, research and international engagement as areas in urgent need of attention.
Professor Chubb said science and innovation are the keys to boosting productivity, creating better jobs, enhancing competitiveness and growing the economy.
"Science is infrastructure and it is critical to our future," Professor Chubb said.
"We must align our scientific effort to the national interest, focus on areas of particular importance or need and do it on a scale that will make a difference to Australia and a changing world."
The report warns Australia has been leaving to chance the future of its core science and maths skills.
Australia has no federal science minister and is the only OECD country without a national science strategy.
It found 40 per cent of Year Seven to Year 10 maths classes are not taught by a qualified maths teacher and that just 39 per cent of Australians believe the benefits of science outweigh the risk.
The report, titled Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics: Australia's Future, builds on Professor Chubb's efforts to increase the focus on science and technology - an approach that has won the support of key business groups.
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