A blueprint is being created to improve science teaching in primary and secondary schools.
Edith Cowan Univer-sity and the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs have been commissioned by the Federal Government in a quarter of a million dollar contract to find where improvements can be made.
Industry sources suggest the study has been commissioned because of concerns that upper secondary students are showing a decreasing interest in science.
The decrease is apparently following through to universities.
A partnership of academics from ECU and Curtin University and major education organisations including the Australian Science Teachers Association, the Australian Academy of Science and Curricu-lum Corporation will undertake the study.
Meanwhile, the De-partment of Employment and Training has given science and technology in the vocational education and training sector a $1 million boost.
Employment and Training Minister Gra-ham Kierath said the $1 million innovation plan would encourage the adoption, use and understanding of science and technology within the vocational education and training system, strengthening its ability to respond to industry and community needs.
He said a key to the plan was the creation of an innovation fund to make funding available to support partnerships between industry and TAFE colleges or private training providers.
Mr Kierath said the training sector had built strong partnerships with industry that had produced world’s best practice research projects, commercial benefits for industry and enhanced learning environments for students.
The plan also aims to develop entry level training, life long learning
initiatives and the skills needed for a more
competitive industry.
