PORT Macquarie MP Leslie Williams has congratulated a local recipient of the NSW Government’s Early Childhood Teaching Scholarships.
Mrs Williams said the scholarships are supporting local diploma-qualified early childhood educators to become qualified early childhood teachers.
“The scholarship will provide local early childhood educator Debra Bartlett with up to $10,000 to support her study costs,” Ms Williams said.
“These students have demonstrated a dedication and aptitude for early childhood education and have chosen to obtain higher qualifications.
“This round of scholarships provides a pathway for experienced educators working in these areas and in disadvantaged communities to become early childhood teachers,” Ms Williams said.
“Children in their early years need access to quality early childhood education, delivered by qualified early childhood teachers.
“Seventy scholarships have been awarded across the state, and 50 of these have been allocated to educators in rural and regional NSW.
“The scholarships are in line with the government’s focus on closing the education gap in regional and rural NSW.”
Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said this scholarship round was announced with the release of Rural and Remote Education: A blueprint for action, and focused on educators working in regional and remote NSW.
“These 70 educators who have been awarded these scholarships have demonstrated their professionalism, passion for working with young children and desire to further their career in early childhood education,” Mr Piccoli said.
“The successful applicants are working in a range of different early childhood services and are located right across NSW.”
