 |
Media Release
$19.4 MILLION SUCCESS FOR BOYS PROGRAMME – FIRST ROUND OF GRANTS NOW OPEN
7 October 2005 MIN 2006/05
I am pleased to announce that applications for funding under the first round of the Australian Government’s $19.4 million Success for Boys programme have opened.
The Government is committed to improving boys’ educational and social outcomes, and through Success for Boys will provide grants of around $10,000 to schools to help them improve the way they work with boys.
It is imperative that nothing is done which undermines the important and necessary progress which has been made in the last twenty years in the education of girls, however the evidence is overwhelming that boys are falling behind in our education system.
Many boys enjoy school and are successful in their studies. However, it is of concern that many others are underperforming in a range of key educational areas and broader social indicators. We know that boys are underperforming in literacy, are less engaged with school, and overwhelmingly outnumber girls in disciplinary issues.
Schools will be given grants to implement the Success for Boys Professional Learning Programme. This comprises proven strategies to help boys achieve educational, social, and personal success, developed by Australian boys’ education experts and quality assured in schools nationally.
Schools can use these grants to implement activities and projects that will help embed the professional learning in their curriculum. Over 2006 and 2007, up to 1,600 schools nationally will receive average grants of $10,000 to help them raise their boys’ achievement.
Since 2003 the Government has committed over $27 million to improve boys’ educational and social outcomes. The successful Boys’ Education Lighthouse Schools programme, which has been operating over 2003-05, has supported over 550 schools nationally to develop effective teaching practices and strategies that work with boys.
Building on the Lighthouse programme and other efforts in this area, the Success for Boys initiative is well placed to bring about significant improvements for the outcomes of Australian schoolboys.
I encourage all schools to take up the opportunity to apply for this new funding.
Schools can register their interest in applying for grants at: www.successforboys.edu.au.
Media Contacts:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Yaron Finkelstein 0414 927 663
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Laila Lacis 0412 040 034
|
