Seven more country scholarships to University teacher trainees

22/7/99
A joint initiative by Western Australia's education and mining industries -designed to encourage more teachers to work in country towns - has been so successful that it's being expanded.
Education Minister Colin Barnett said today he was delighted to announce that a further seven scholarships, in addition to the original 20, would be offered to university teacher trainees to support them in their final classroom practicum in the Goldfields or Pilbara.
"I am very pleased that this initiative, launched only three months ago to encourage graduate teachers to work in rural areas, has been so popular with students and the mining industry," Mr Barnett said.
"The number of scholarships has increased thanks to additional financial support, extra patronage from accommodation and air tickets suppliers, and particularly because of the high calibre of the students applying for the scholarships.
"This is a fantastic example of how innovative partnerships can work together to make positive changes in education."
The Minister announced the initiative during a visit to the Goldfields in April. Worth $5000, the scholarships include return air travel, accommodation and a weekly allowance.
"The successful students are considered exceptional by the selection panel, with excellent grades and extremely positive attitudes to teaching and especially rural teaching," Mr Barnett said.
The Education Department of WA and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy jointly developed the scholarship initiative, with support from the Department of Commerce and Trade, Ansett Australia, Skywest Airlines and mining companies.
The scholarships apply to the final six or 10-week Assistant Teacher Program (ATP) practicum starting this term and are offered to students completing their Bachelor of Education or Diploma of Education.
Students are also guaranteed placement with the Education Department next year, provided they complete their degrees at the end of this year.
Mr Barnett said the increase in the number of scholarships complemented other Government initiatives aimed at encouraging more teachers to work in the country. These included:

• the Country Incentives Package - more than 1750 teachers have recently received a financial incentive payment, in some cases up to $1900, under the package which also includes professional incentives to encourage teachers to work in difficult to staff schools;
• the Remote Teaching Service - this initiative 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;
• housing improvements - a $43 million three-year construction and leasing program is underway to upgrade housing in rural and remote areas; and -
• internships - 16 university technology and enterprise teacher trainees, who have completed the required core units for their teaching qualification, will be 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.

Pilbara schools will host 12 teacher trainees - Karratha SHS (3); Hedland SHS (2); North Tom Price PS (1); Tom Price PS (1); Dampier PS (3); and Tom Price SHS (2).
The Goldfields will host 15 teacher trainees - Eastern Goldfields SHS (5); Leonora DHS (1); Kambalda HS (2); North Kalgoorlie PS (2); South Kalgoorlie PS (2); Boulder PS (1); Jameson RCS (1); and the Goldfields district office (1).
Media contacts: Justine Whittome, Minister's office, (08) 9222 9699,
Dr Irene Ioannakis, Chamber of Minerals and Energy,(08) 9325 2955