July 2010     South Australia’s biggest ever push to improve the science knowledge of our primary school children has passed a major test with more than 5000 primary school teachers completing extra specialist science training courses.

Education Minister Jay Weatherill said science has been earmarked as a priority subject for all State primary schools as part of the $105 million Primary School Skills for the Future program announced last year.  “This year we started phasing in mandated lesson times for science, maths and English in all public primary schools,” Mr Weatherill said.

“Last year students were studying science for an average 45 minutes each week.  From the beginning of the next school year, Year 4 to Year 7 students will spend at least two hours per week learning science and Year 3 students will have a minimum of 90 minutes learning science."

“But to do this we needed to ensure our teachers have specialist science training.  So as part of this push to make science fun for children and to help them increase their science knowledge, we have been providing extra training for primary school teachers."

Under the Australian and State Government Primary School Skills for the Future program, grants of more than $13.6 million have been provided to schools to buy resources and send teachers to specialist training in science, mathematics and literacy.

“Students need a solid foundation in science to prepare them for work and life in our technologically advanced society,” Mr Weatherill said. “Understanding almost every aspect of the world around us requires an understanding of science. That’s why this investment is helping teachers to lift their skills and knowledge about practical everyday examples of science so they can capture the interest and imagination of children.”

The program aims to train about 7500 primary school teachers in South Australia in this new approach to science teaching by the end of next year. Other measures to build science skills include the Government’s commitment to boosting science teaching in secondary schools and fostering interest in defence-related careers. In a push to increase maths teaching time in the classroom, primary school teachers will begin specialist maths training from next year.

From information provided by the premier of South Australia, July 21, 2010

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