Government scholarship could wipe new teachers’ student debt

The Federal Government has announced a scholarship program to attract more new teachers. It comes amid growing concerns of a national staff shortage.

Anyone starting a teaching degree in 2024 can now register forworth up to $40,000.

Students won’t need prior teaching experience to be eligible.

Here’s how it will work.

The scholarship

The Federal Government today announced a scholarship program for undergraduate and postgraduate full-time teaching students.

Eligible students will receive $10,000 per year for every year of their degree — four years for undergrads (or $40,000) and two years for postgrads ($20,000).

The government will hand out up to 1,000 scholarships to prospective new teachers each year from 2024 to 2028.

New teachers

High-achieving school leavers and mid-career professionals will be among those targeted for the program, along with First Nations and regional/rural students.

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A $2,000 ‘top-up’ payment will also be offered to students who complete a final-year placement in a school located in a remote part of Australia.

Scholarship recipients must commit to teaching at a public school for at least two to four years after graduation.

Application process

Only students beginning a teaching degree in 2024 will be eligible for the first round of scholarships.

Applications haven’t opened yet but will close in January. Applicants will hear about their offers by March.

Australians, New Zealanders, and permanent residents will be eligible for the program. It will also extend to students with a permanent humanitarian visa.

Teacher burnout

The scholarship announcement comes less than a week after the Governmentto recruit more teachers.

It’s forecasted that the number of high school teachers entering the industry will be 4,100 below classroom demand by 2025.

Reasons for the shortage include growing enrolments in schools at a time when enrolments in teaching courses have declined, worsened by teacher burnout and pay concerns