STEPH COOKE SINGS PRAISES OF FREE DEGREES IN TEACHING
December 12, 2017
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP has welcomed a NSW Government initiative which is offering free university degrees for budding young teachers.
Ms Cooke said the NSW Government will fully fund the university degrees of 60 new teachers, paying their HECS debt if they accept a posting at one of more than 150 eligible rural public schools including Grenfell, Narrandera and West Wyalong.
“Education is an absolute cornerstone of any society and I’m so pleased that the NSW Government is working so hard to get great teachers into our schools,” she said.
“When student teachers already have a great workload to tackle, it will be a huge weight off their minds to know that not only will their HECS debt be paid off, they will also receive a $7500 annual stipend during their studies and a $6000 ‘sign on’ bonus when they start a new job to help with the cost of relocation.”
The free degree is one of several changes in the NSW Government’s $140 million Rural and Remote package to boost education standards in country schools.
“Country schools are a vital part of our communities and it’s fantastic to see that the NSW Government is doing its part to ensure our schools are well staffed and well resourced,” Ms Cooke said.
