The State Government is renewing its multi-million dollar scholarship campaign in a bid to attract people to rural and remote schools and to key shortage areas such as mathematics and science.
Education and Training Minister Mark McGowan today launched an advertising campaign to run on radio, television and in print about a diverse range of scholarships on offer.
“Our last campaign was well received and succeeded in securing, for example, 128 people for rural public schools in Western Australia,” Mr McGowan said.
“It is by far the richest teaching scholarship program in Australia.
“In addition, we will be putting up posters at university campuses, dropping off postcards at cafes in around the area and giving presentations to students.
“We are committed to leaving no stone unturned in making sure everyone knows the benefits of working in a WA public school.”
Those eligible for scholarships worth up to $60,000 included university students in their final year of teaching in 2009 studying:
· primary teaching;
· early childhood education;
· maths;
· science (physics and chemistry);
· design and technology;
· home economics;
· English; and
· agriculture.
Additionally, scholarships of a lesser value were available for other subject areas.
The Minister said primary teaching students were now eligible to apply for scholarships worth up to $60,000 to parachute them into careers in public schools in country WA.
“Teaching workforce projections show a shortage of primary school teachers for 2010 and I expect these scholarships will help boost the numbers for that year,” he said.
“The latest round of the State Government’s generous teaching scholarships program, worth $19million over four years, is designed to sign up future teachers.”
The scholarships are for:
· final year teaching graduates wanting to teach in country schools;
· existing teachers to re-train in certain subject areas; and
· industry professionals to study teaching.
Mr McGowan said scholarships were also available for people with degrees other than teaching to change careers and study to become science, maths, design and technology and home economics teachers.
“It is expected that up to 220 scholarships will be offered for 2009,” he said.
“The advertisements are scheduled to run in the media from Sunday and will cost about $180,000.
“These scholarships are about delivering quality teachers for public schools in the country as well as teachers in specialist areas of need in metropolitan schools.”
The Minister said the scholarships program fell in line with recommendations made in the Twomey report.
“The scholarships are part of a multi pronged approach to address teacher supply issues in WA,” he said.
Interested people could apply for a scholarship through the Teaching WA website at http://www.det.wa.edu.au/teachingwa
Other measures introduced by the State Government include increasing teaching pay, converting country contract teachers to permanency, and introducing attractive superannuation arrangements for older teachers.
Minister's office - 9222 9111
