What's newApplications for 2007 scholarships for school career advisorsApplications for the 2007 round of Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) Scholarships for school career advisers are open from 1 May until 23 June 2006. The project makes available funding for 27 study scholarships and 27 industry placement scholarships each year, up until 2009. The Career Advice Australia initiative, managed by Curriculum Corporation, aims to improve the standard of career advice provided to young people and the standing of school career advisers. See more information to download an application form, or contact by email. NZ teacher union welcomes funding to deal with disruptive behaviourNew Zealand Education Minister, Steve Maharey, has announced that the Government will be providing an extra $9.5 million over four years for schools to promote positive behaviour by students and tackle disruption. See Ministerial media release and commentary from the NZEI teacher union, 4 May 2006. Western Australia encourages French studentsWestern Australian Education and Training Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich has finalised a joint communique with the French Government to encourage more French students to undertake study and training in the State. The agreement sets up Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean as a major source of overseas students for Western Australia. Students from Reunion Island have traditionally travelled to the State of Quebec in Canada to study. See Ministerial media release, 2 May 2006. Parents want junk-free canteensResearch from The Parents Jury, a web-based forum for parents, shows that 73 per cent of parents would allow children to buy from school canteens that offered only healthy options, while 13 per cent reported that the move would not affect how often they allowed their children to buy lunch. Parents Jury wants the federal government to make healthy food mandatory at school canteens, pointing to an increase in child obesity in Australia from 10 per cent in 1985 to around 30 per cent in 2005. See latest news, 4 May 2006. Report on Australian Certificate of Education releasedThe Minster for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, has invited public comment on the newly released report Australian Certificate of Education: Exploring a Way Forward, which provides a foundation for considering a standardised Year 12 certificate across Australia. The report recommends a single Australian Certificate of Education awarded by each of the Australian States and Territories in place of the existing nine certificates. See Ministerial statement 5 May 2006. |