Teacher scholarships

30/8/01
Scholarships for student teachers are helping to fill country teaching positions with top teachers.
Education Minister Alan Carpenter today presented scholarship certificates to 17 student teachers who will complete their final teaching practices in fourth term.
Eleven Student Teacher Scholarships were awarded from a very competitive field of students from Curtin and Edith Cowan universities. Six Going Home Scholarships were awarded to final year students born in rural areas and hoping to complete their final practice teaching assignments in their home town or district.
The cost of providing the scholarships is about $3,500. All of the scholarship winners receive free or assisted accommodation, travel expenses and $100 a week for expenses.
Mr Carpenter said the 44 other scholarship winners had already completed or were in the process of completing their five to ten week country practice teaching in 2001.
"Last year, 41 scholarships were awarded and 35 subsequently accepted country appointments for this year," he said.
"That is a tremendous result and I hope it is repeated this year.
"Previous scholarship winners have told us they would not have applied for country postings if they had not had the opportunity to experience country teaching."
Mr Carpenter said the scholarships were an example of what could be achieved by the Government and private sector working together.
He paid tribute to sponsors Ansett; Chamber of Minerals and Energy; Department of Commerce and Trade, Department of Education; Skywest; The Countryman; and Wesfarmers Dalgety.
"The Government is committed to providing a quality of education in country schools that is at least the equivalent of that available in city schools," he said.
"The availability of high quality teachers and a stable staffing environment will be critical factors in achieving that goal and this collaborative scholarship program is helping to achieve that."
Media contact: John Altham 9213 6806