Victoria Minister for Education Martin Dixon

Victoria Minister responsible for the Teaching Profession Peter Hall

Government Delivers On Maths And Science Specialists

Victor P Taffa

The Victorian Coalition Government is delivering on its election promise to boost the standard of maths and science education, with the first 100 specialists being selected to work in dozens of Victorian government primary schools.

Minister responsible for the Teaching Profession Peter Hall and Education Minister Martin Dixon today announced the first schools to participate in the Victorian Government’s $24.3 Million five-year program.

“Today is an important day for maths and science education in Victoria.” Mr. Hall, a former maths teacher, said.

VIC Minister Responsible For The Teaching Profession Peter Hall

Among the 55 primary schools selected to receive funding for specialists are Daylesford, Rochester, Leopold, Berwick Fields, Warragul, Mansfield, Clifton Springs and St Albans East.

The successful schools will now select current teachers to train as specialists to work in both their own school and other nearby schools from the start of next year.

“The specialists will work intensively with other teachers to make maths and science lessons as exciting as possible, aiming to encourage students to do well in maths and science and to continue with these subjects in later school years.” Mr. Hall said.

Mr. Dixon said the initiative was aimed at improving teachers’ confidence and ability to teach maths and science and was an important means of increasing students’ participation in the subjects.

“For too long, maths and science have been overlooked in the classroom, leading to a 5.9 % drop in enrolments in year 12 VCE Mathematical Methods, a 15.3 % drop in Specialist Mathematics and a 2.9 % drop in year 12 VCE Chemistry enrolments.” Mr. Dixon said.

“This government knows that by getting students excited by these subjects early in life, they are more likely to keep up the enthusiasm and embark on the important maths and science-related careers Victoria is depending on to keep our state at the forefront of innovation.”

Sixty maths specialists have been selected to work with 26 schools and 40 science specialists will work with 29 schools.

The remaining 100 specialists promised by the Victorian Government under the Primary Mathematics and Science Specialists Initiative will be selected in 2013, with 60 science specialists and 40 maths specialists.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at improving maths and science participation and standards in Victorian schools, which also includes a four year $5 Million program to provide 400 scholarships for university science graduates who want to become teachers in Victorian government schools, particularly in physics and chemistry.