Teach Next puts professionals in front of the class
Julia Gillard,Simon Crean
posted Tuesday, 10 August 2010
A Gillard Labor Government will encourage motivated professionals to move into the classroom and pass on their skills and passion to the next generation of young Australians.
Many highly-skilled professionals have considered a career in teaching, but have been put off by the time it takes to meet qualification hurdles.
Teach Next will provide professionals with a new option, by providing specialised intensive training of around eight weeks duration that will enable them to quickly move into the classroom and start earning a wage.
Teach Next will help reduce teacher shortages in crucial subject areas like maths and science and will help create a teaching workforce with greater diversity.
Professionals seeking to change their career will be able to apply to participate in the program. Successful applicants will be selected on the basis of their technical skills and expertise, and their aptitude for teaching.
They will be mentored by a highly-experienced teacher as they make the transition into the classroom.
Building on the success of the Teach for Australia program, a re-elected Gillard Labor Government will work with State and Territory Governments and other professional organisations to establish this Program.
A system for matching career-change professionals with specialist vacancies in schools will also be established – so applicants can be sure a job is waiting for them.
The Gillard Labor Government will fund around 50 per cent of the course fees for successful applicants.
In addition to the subsidised training course, successful applicants will receive up to $10,000 to support their transition to the classroom. This funding can be used for relocation expenses and professional registration fees.
This initiative will see lab technicians, accountants, engineers and other professionals become the expert maths and science teachers Australian schools need.
Individuals with years of experience will bring enthusiasm and passion for the subject they will teach, and will help to inspire a new generation of young Australians to study subjects such as maths and science.
It is envisaged Teach Next will be delivered in partnership with one or more universities and will initially focus on maths and science teachers.
Teach Next participants will gain a teaching qualification while simultaneously working in the classroom for a period of two years. Throughout this period they will receive further training as well as support and mentoring from a highly-experienced teacher.
It is anticipated that the first Teach Next specialists will start their intensive teaching course in 2012.
Through this reform more Australian children will be taught by teachers with specialist subject knowledge, so they get the best possible learning outcomes. This will contribute to a better skilled and more productive nation.
This initiative will cost $16.1 million and will be fully offset over the forward estimates, consistent with Federal Labor’s commitment to return the Budget to surplus in three years
Tags: Education, Gillard, Schools, Students, Teachers