Science and Mathematics in Schools

Transcription

1 Strong Smart Healthy Green Fair Safe Science and Mathematics in Schools POLICY 2010 Printed and Authorised by M. Brown, 141 Gilles Street, Adelaide SA 5000.

2 South Australia s economy is undergoing significant transformation. Many traditional industries are being replaced by advanced manufacturing enterprises, and areas of 21st Century expertise such as electronics, ICT and precision engineering. To help ensure that young South Australians have the opportunity to pursue and excel in these new careers, we are making maths and science a major focus in our education system. We have already released a Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy , which was backed by an investment of more than $51 million by the Commonwealth Government. From this year, we are also ensuring that every primary school teacher in the State receives specialist training in science and mathematics. That s because we understand that teachers are the single-most important influence on student engagement and results, and we want young South Australians to be curious about, and develop a passion for, science and maths. This policy outlines our commitment to support more than 150 teachers the equivalent of nearly one specialist teacher per secondary school to train as highly-qualified teachers of mathematics and science. The South Australians who will provide the building blocks to re-shape our State s workforce are either in school now, or about to begin their education. We need to provide them with the tools they will require to meet the challenges of the 21st Century workplace, and to help ensure South Australia s ongoing economic prosperity. Mike Rann Premier of South Australia February 2010 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LABOR Science and Mathematics in Schools 1

3 What This Policy Means For You A good education for your child starts with good teachers; inspirational teachers will help to spark your child s interest in science and mathematics In order to develop your child s skills, we will make sure that there will be more qualified teachers in our schools with specialist skills in science and maths There are growing job opportunities here in South Australia that require skills in science and maths. Our programs will mean your child can learn strong skills in science and mathematics so they can build careers in jobs right here in South Australia ACTION u A new Teach SA program will be introduced to boost the number of specialist mathematics and science teachers in our schools. The initiative will offer study incentives and fast-track teachers towards top-level teacher pay u Our new Teach SA program will provide high-level qualifications in science and mathematics for up to 155 high school teachers. On average, this would provide one specialist teacher for nearly every high school in the State u A new outreach program will be developed through RiAus, the Royal Institution of Great Britain s first sister establishment created outside of the United Kingdom. The program will help young people to learn about careers in science and mathematics-related fields SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LABOR Science and Mathematics in Schools 2

4 Rann Government Achievements Scientific and mathematical knowledge are central to innovation and development. However, across Australia and around the world there has been a trend away from the study of science and mathematics at school over the last decade. The Rann Government has made science and mathematics education a major focus in our schools during the past eight years. Some of our initiatives have included: A $2.1 million program over three years to support 14 initiatives designed to boost interest in science and mathematics A SACE (South Australian Certificate of Education) Mathematics and Science Program, as part of the $5.7 million School to Work grants over three years, where schools, universities and industries team up to bring maths and science to life and help senior school students learn about the varied career paths available Industry placements for driven science and mathematics teachers to apply real-life practices in their classrooms Opening the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus), the first international satellite of the world-renown Royal Institution of Great Britain, which has been the flagship of science in the United Kingdom for over 200 years A $11.8 million annual investment in literacy improvement in the early years was extended to include numeracy in 2008 A Primary Years Numeracy Professional Learning Program to help teachers to understand why a student struggles with a particular concept so they can better help these students A C-Change program that gives science and maths teachers incentives to teach and provide leadership in rural, remote and low socioeconomic metropolitan schools Numeracy testing at Year 9, along with literacy testing, to help identify and address any problems before students start the South Australian Certificate of Education A campaign to encourage young people to pursue careers in maths and science SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LABOR Science and Mathematics in Schools 3

5 A $5.9 million Commonwealth and State Government Advanced Technology Industry Schools Pathway program to provide the maths, science and technical studies that students need to pursue advanced technology careers in defence-related industries. While our efforts to turn around the decline are long term, we are already making progress. Stage 2 subject completion figures from the SACE Board from 2006 to 2008 show an 18% increase in the number of students completing specialist mathematics, a 10% increase in physics, 4% increase in chemistry and 4% in mathematical studies. We have more work to do and have already announced a detailed plan to make science and mathematics two of South Australia s top priorities in public primary schools. The Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy is backed with $51.1 million in funding from the Commonwealth Government. An initial $7.8 million in grants was provided direct to schools in This is part of the broader $105 million Primary School Skills for the Future strategy to improve the maths, science and literacy skills of young South Australians. This is being supported with both State and Commonwealth funds. We will guarantee instruction times in these subjects, making South Australia the first in the nation to do so: By the start of 2011, Years 4 to 7 students will be spending a minimum of 2 hours per week on science and 5 hours per week on mathematics and numeracy By the start of 2011, Year 3 students will be spending a minimum of 1.5 hours per week on science and a minimum of 5 hours per week on mathematics By the start of 2013, Reception to Year 2 students will be spending a minimum of 5 hours per week on mathematics and up to 1.5 hours per week on science We are committed to improving students achievements in the National Literacy and Numeracy Tests, in line with the goals in South Australia s Strategic Plan. Last year s results demonstrated improvement in almost every category of reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation and numeracy skills compared to the previous year. The strategy aims to contribute to a sustainable, system-wide improvement in student learning of mathematics and science from Reception to Year 7 in South Australian public primary schools. In the longer term, we aim to see an increase in student engagement, participation and achievement in science and mathematics across both primary and secondary years. Every State primary school teacher in South Australia will receive specialist training in science and mathematics over the next three years from SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LABOR Science and Mathematics in Schools 4

6 Our Vision for South Australia Background The Rann Government views science, technology, engineering and mathematics related areas as key drivers for economic growth and productivity in South Australia. Emerging industries such as defence, mining, and bioscience require highly qualified workers with high-level mathematical and scientific understandings. It s today s young people who will be taking up these jobs in the future so training and preparing the workforce of tomorrow starts in our schools. Science in schools must build on the natural curiosity of students, nurture their sense of wonder and develop their passion for exploring how the world works. Mathematics is an essential skill in today s technological society and we want to spark our students a recognition that maths is central to everyday life. Our goal is to revitalise science and maths education to boost the take-up of these subjects at schools and universities. Having better skilled teachers in science and maths makes sense if we are to prepare young people for highly skilled jobs of the future in South Australia. Investing in a strong and skilled school workforce is central to creating opportunities for young South Australians. Our teachers are at the heart of creating better opportunities for every child. Research indicates that teacher quality is the single greatest in-school influence on student engagement and results. Our South Australian public education workforce is already strong, skilled and experienced. With some 15,500 teachers, the public education sector is also a significant and vital part of South Australia s overall workforce. A range of workforce development strategies are being successfully implemented, resulting in virtually all teaching vacancies being filled at the beginning of the 2010 school year. However, in every OECD country, teaching is changing and the lifecycle of the current teaching workforce is moving to a new phase where attraction, development and retention are more important than ever before. This particularly applies in science, mathematics and related fields. We want to make sure that more teachers have the skills and confidence to teach science and mathematics as core priorities in our schools. From next year, we will be providing specialist training in these subjects to every public primary school teacher in the State. However, to meet our current and future workforce needs, we require more teachers with specialist skills in science and mathematics in our high schools. Difficulties in attracting teachers to particular schools in regional and low socio-economic communities requires new strategies to ensure a strong workforce into the future. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LABOR Science and Mathematics in Schools 5

7 More Specialist Mathematics and Science Teachers The Rann Government will introduce a new Teach SA program to provide South Australian schools with more teachers who have specialist qualifications in science and mathematics. This 6 year, $9.44 million program will support up to 155 people to train as highly qualified teachers of science and mathematics in the State s high schools the equivalent of nearly one specialist teacher per high school. It is expected that this range of measures will result in up to 155 extra highly qualified science and mathematics teachers working in State high schools. The three-point strategy includes initiatives to: RECRUIT: Up to 40 maths and science graduates and career professionals will be recruited to train as teachers. Each will attract a package of incentives that includes financial support to complete a one-year postgraduate course, a guaranteed job in a State school, support from a mentor teacher and further training to become regional leaders in their subject area. The best teachers will be fast-tracked towards top-level teacher pay or a leadership position. RENEW: Up to 100 existing non-specialised teachers of mathematics and science will be supported to gain a specialised qualification. A package of incentives will be offered, providing financial support towards the cost of training, support from a mentor teacher and fast-tracked entry towards top-level teacher pay. ACTION u A new Teach SA program will be introduced to boost the number of specialist mathematics and science teachers in our schools. The initiative will offer study incentives and fast-track teachers towards top-level teacher pay RETRAIN: Up to 15 existing senior secondary teachers will be supported to gain high-level skills in physics, chemistry and specialist mathematics. Scholarships that give teachers time out from the classroom to undertake a university course over one year full-time or two years part-time will be offered. After completing their studies, the teachers will be supported as they fast-track towards a top-level teacher or leadership position in addition to becoming regional leaders in their subject area. ACTION u Our new Teach SA program will provide high-level qualifications in science and mathematics for up to 155 high school teachers during the next four years. On average, this would provide one specialist teacher for nearly every high school in the State SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LABOR Science and Mathematics in Schools 6

8 RiAus School Outreach The Department of Education & Children s Services will work with RiAus to develop an outreach program for the State s schools. RiAus is the Royal Institution of Great Britain s first sister establishment created outside of the United Kingdom in its 200 year history. Located in the old Stock Exchange building in the centre of Adelaide s CBD, RiAus is a national, contemporary, dynamic and accessible home for science located in the heart of Adelaide. The new outreach program will aim to show young people the exciting and rewarding careers opened up by studying science and mathematics at school. ACTION u A new outreach program will be developed through RiAus, the Royal Institution of Great Britain s first sister establishment created outside of the United Kingdom. The program will help young people to learn about careers in science and mathematics-related fields SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LABOR Science and Mathematics in Schools 7

9 Costings More Specialist Maths and Science Teachers 2009/ / / /13 Outyears Recurrent - $1.714 million $2.989 million $2.122 million $2.620 million* 2009/ / / / /14 Investing * Sum of remaining three years beyond forward estimates Royal Institution (RiAus) Outreach Program in Schools 2009/ / / /13 Ongoing Recurrent - $150,000 $162,000 $167,000 $173, / / / / /14 Investing SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LABOR Science and Mathematics in Schools 8