15/9/02
Western Australian Education Minister Alan Carpenter has launched the State's biggest ever teacher recruitment campaign.
Speaking to the State's secondary principals at their annual conference today, Mr Carpenter said the campaign would recruit more than 2,300 new teachers into Government schools for the beginning of next year.
A combination of targeted scholarships, career benefits and financial incentives would be offered.
"We knew we were going to need another 400 teachers because of our policy initiatives in primary schools," Mr Carpenter said.
"Our campaign will include a drive to get more men into primary schools, more science teachers, more language teachers, more maths teachers, more IT teachers and more teachers into rural and remote schools."
Mr Carpenter said the unprecedented influx of new talent would help revitalise Government schools.
"We are at a point in time when we have large numbers of teachers reaching retirement age who have to be replaced and, at the same time, we have a State Government employing hundreds of additional teachers to help our kids," he said.
"There has never been a time like it in Western Australia and it provides us with a unique opportunity.
"I have said we need to attract the best and brightest young people into teaching and that is exactly what we are aiming to do.
"After years of neglect from Government, the teaching profession is being elevated to the status it deserves.
"Teachers are the most influential people on children's lives after parents.
"The TEACHING Shaping Young Lives strategy will allow the Department of Education to run its most high-profile campaign yet to get this message out to young people, as well as mature-age candidates.
"This year there was a 25 per cent leap in the number of university applicants choosing teaching as a career and we want that trend to continue."
Mr Carpenter said he hoped the campaign would encourage males to consider teaching as a career, particularly in primary schools, as well as address teacher shortages in specific areas.
The TEACHING Shaping Young Lives strategy includes:
- Radio and newspaper advertising - beginning in November and aimed at recruiting 17 to 25-year-olds into teaching training and teaching careers;
- Direct mail campaign - in early November, information will be mailed to 60,000 students in universities and secondary schools highlighting the advantages of taking up a career in teaching and providing information in regard to opportunities and pathways into teaching; and
- Recruitment website - information for prospective teachers which will be activated by October.
Mr Carpenter said the
TEACHING Shaping Young Lives strategy would highlight State Government programs designed to enhance the teaching profession.
These programs include:
- $17.5million in 2003 on salaries for 350 newly recruited teachers required as a result of Labor's commitment to reduce class sizes in Years 1-3;
- $3.6million over four years for 320 Science Teachers HECS Reimbursement program;
- An additional 280 scholarships over three years including:
- 30 for Aboriginal students; and
- 250 for languages, males for primary, maths, design and technology, IT and home economics.
- Student Teacher Rural Experience Program - financial support is provided to 80 final year teaching students to undertake extended teaching practice in rural schools;
- Teacher advocates - appointed to promote teaching as a profession, the teacher advocates target students enrolled in Years 10, 11 and 12 as well as tertiary student enrolled in disciplines other than education;
- Induction and support for new teachers - includes a graduate-mentoring program and online support from experienced teachers; and
- Special salary packages designed to attract and retain more teachers in regional WA.
"Teachers can make a real difference," Mr Carpenter said.
"This Government recognises their importance in shaping our children's futures, and we will do all we can to ensure the best for both our teachers and our children."
Minister's Office - 9213 6800
