Science motion wins support in Parliament
29 Jun 2011
Media release The Government has made Budget cuts to programs designed to allow teachers access to professional development support they would have needed to teach the new national science curriculum Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education said today.
"A Coalition motion calling on the Government to recognise the effectiveness of the scrapped programs, "Primary connections" and "Science Connections" passed the House of Representatives today," Mr Pyne said.
These initiatives, rolled out by the Australian Academy of Science, were designed to address concerns over OECD evidence that showed Australian students were falling behind in science literacy compared with other countries in recent years.
Many teachers, especially primary school teachers, have had little science or maths training and these programs offered important additional support.
It is critical that teachers be able to access some support given the new national curriculum is to be rolled out from 2013.
"Peter Garrett now needs to explain how he intends to deliver the new curriculum when he has ripped away resources that follow the intent and practicalities of meeting that objective," Mr Pyne said.
June 2, 2011
MEDIA CONTACT:
Adam Howard
0400 414 833