Joint initiative aimed at encouraging more teachers to work in country schools

22/12/99
A joint initiative by Western Australia's education and mining industries, aimed at encouraging more teachers to work in country schools, will be expanded to include the Kimberley region next year.
Education Minister Colin Barnett said 27 scholarships had already been offered this year to university teacher trainees to sponsor them in their final classroom practicum during term three or four in a Goldfields or Pilbara school.

Next year, final year university students will be able to apply for a scholarship to carry out their practicums in either a Pilbara, Goldfields or Kimberley school.
Mr Barnett said the project's sponsors - the Education Department of WA, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, the Department of Commerce and Trade, Ansett Australia, Skywest Airlines and mining companies - were so delighted with the high calibre of applicants this year that they were keen to expand the opportunity further.
Next year, up to 30 scholarships will be awarded, each worth $5000 and covering return air travel, accommodation, a $100 cash weekly allowance during the six or 10-week practicum, and guaranteed placement with the Education Department of WA in 2001, subject to the satisfactory completion of the qualification in 2000.
To be eligible, students need to be in the final year of their four year university teacher training degree, have a course average score of at least 75 per cent and have achieved a competent grade in their most recent practicum.
Students must also have a desire to teach in the country, and need to submit a one-page account of why they want to be awarded a scholarship.
Education Minister Colin Barnett said he was delighted that the scholarship program had been so successful and would be extended after only one year.
"This partnership between the State Government, the mining industry, business and local communities has very real and tangible benefits for everyone concerned," Mr Barnett said.
"The opportunities offered to future teachers are very desirable, they get to experience the richness of life in close-knit rural and remote communities, and if they complete their studies successfully, they have greater access to permanent status and considerable financial incentives.
"The practicums are also a great way to introduce enthusiastic young teachers to remote students who can only benefit from their energy and vigour."
Mr Barnett said the scholarship initiative complemented other Government initiatives, including:

• the Country Incentives Package - a package of professional incentives and financial benefits to encourage teachers to work in difficult-to-staff schools;
• the Remote Teaching Service - an initiative which offers additional allowances to teachers in very isolated schools;
• teaching scholarships - 40 scholarships are being offered each year to talented young school leavers to study teaching. Each scholarship is valued at around $12,000 over four years, which meets the discounted upfront HECS charge for the university courses; and -
• internships - 16 university technology and enterprise teacher trainees who have completed the required core units for their teaching qualification have been paid full teacher salaries to complete their ATPs and spend the remainder of the final semester of their four-year teaching degree in a Government school.