Monday, 4 December 2017
FREE university degrees are up for grabs for budding young teachers, as part of a NSW Government initiative to attract the best teachers to country NSW, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall announced today.
Mr Marshall said scholarships would be on offer in 2018 to fully fund the university degrees of 60 new teachers, paying their HECS debt if they accept a posting at one of more than 150 eligible rural and remote public schools, including 19 across the Northern Tablelands.
“Students awarded the scholarship must maintain a credit average throughout their university studies,” Mr Marshall said.
“Scholarships will be available to new and enrolled students and include a stipend of $7,500 per year to assist students with their studies.
“A $6,000 ‘sign on’ bonus is also provided when they start their new job to help with the cost of relocation.”
Mr Marshall is encouraging local students to apply for the scholarship and go into a teaching career in country NSW.
“Great teachers are an integral part of our local schools, and encouraging the best and brightest to join our local community is important to ensure we continue to have outstanding teachers in our schools,” he said.
The free degree is one of several changes in the NSW Government’s $140 million Rural and Remote package to boost education standards in country schools.
Mr Marshall said he was delighted the NSW Government was working hard to provide the resources rural schools need.
“Country schools are the foundation our bush communities are built on,” he said.
“This means no matter the town, wherever there are children, it must remain our priority to ensure there are well staffed and well-resourced public schools.”
For more information and advice on application dates, visit: www.teach.nsw.edu.au/find-teaching-jobs/choose-rural