The New South Wales Education Minister and Deputy Premier have said they’re looking to implement more incentives to attract quality teachers to work in regional schools.
Some financial benefits already exist, alluring new graduates to work in small towns.
The teach.Rural Scholarship provides university students with support throughout their study, with a guaranteed permanent position in a rural or remote area.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro says “teachers in regional NSW play a crucial role in determining our students’ future, so it’s imperative that we have the best of the best in the bush.”
Last year, investments into regional teachers increased to 29.7 million dollars from just 1.5 million dollars in 2017.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell says “The incentives scheme hasn’t been properly reviewed since the early 1900s. Regional NSW is evolving and modernising, and so must our policies.”
She believes the changes will revolutionise regional education, helping to provide students with “the same educational opportunities no matter where they live.”
Other ideas are also in the front line, including encouraging school leavers to take a gap year in regional and remote schools, supporting partners of teachers to find jobs in regional areas and assisting young families to buy their first property in a rural town.
