Excellent teachers will be able to become principals in NSW within a decade under a new program to entice more people to the profession.
Teachers who excel will be able to fast-track to the position of principal under a new program designed to lure the best and brightest into education.
At least 30 excellent teachers and 20 teaching graduates would join the Fast Stream program each year, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Tuesday.
They’ll be able to reach principal level within 10 years, instead of the average of at least 15 years.
The program will “incentivise young people to consider teaching as a career and not only teaching but also leading a school community,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Aspiring principals will first spend a year in a high-performing school where they’ll be mentored by a principal. Then they will take on a leadership position as a deputy or assistant principal for up to five years.
One of those rotations will be in a regional area, in an effort to boost education standards outside the cities.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said bringing the best teachers to regional NSW would benefit both the students and the community.
“Once these teachers get a taste of rural living, the hope is that they will stay regional and take up the better quality of life we have on offer,” Barilaro said in a statement.
The biggest equity gap in education is between metro and regional areas, Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said.
Applications will open in April and the program will start in 2022.
In another initiative, senior school students will be able to choose from 20 extra vocational courses in schools from next year, Berejiklian said.
Those courses will include cybersecurity and robotics, as well as training in more traditional industries like real estate, aged care and horticulture. They will be online so regional students are not disadvantaged, Mitchell said.
By Hannah Ryan
