6/3/03
More than 60 scholarships worth $10,000 each have been awarded to Western Australia's top student teachers as part of the State Government's commitment to attract teachers to Western Australian Government schools in rural areas of need.
Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter today met the 62 students who each received the scholarships under the State Government's four-year, $2.6million teacher scholarship program.
"This scholarship program forms part of the State Government's teacher recruitment campaign launched in September last year," Mr Carpenter said.
"Part of that campaign includes a drive to get more males into primary school teaching, more teachers in areas including science, languages other than English (LOTE), mathematics and information technology (IT), and more teachers into rural and remote schools.
"As part of that drive, we have awarded this year's scholarships in our priority areas to 22 upcoming male primary school trainees, 11 mathematics trainees and five each for LOTE and IT trainees. (*Full list of learning areas included below).
"In addition to the Final Year Teaching Scholarships, we have awarded a further 11 scholarships as part of the Teaching Scholarship for Aboriginal People and the Aboriginal Cadetship programs.
"These 73 people will add considerably to our workforce after they graduate, given their academic results, their wide range of experiences and their commitment to teach in areas of need.
"I'm especially pleased to see the large number of high-calibre male primary school teachers who have already been attracted to work in Government schools through this initiative.
"Teaching scholarships are an important element in the Government's platform to increase the number of high quality graduates seeking employment as teachers in WA Government schools."
The State Government awards the Final Year Teaching Scholarships winners with $10,000 to assist them in their final year of study towards a teaching qualification.
Each graduate is guaranteed a teaching position in a rural Government school for two years.
Mr Carpenter said almost 300 students applied for the scholarships this year - more than half of them had made a decision to change from another profession to teaching.
"Following a rigorous selection process, 62 people were selected as recipients of the scholarships," he said.
"Successful applicants include many experienced professionals who have been employed in a range of careers, including a university lecturer, boiler-maker, seismologist, architect, geologist, engineer and governess.
"This year's Final Year Teaching Scholarship program achieved overwhelming success in targeting and attracting individuals in areas of need."
* List of scholarship learning areas is as follows:
Minister's office: Vanessa Joynt 9213 6800
