Applications for the Governor’s School STEM awards in Western Australia, which aim to recognise outstanding whole-of-school STEM education, are now open to primary and secondary schools across the state.
The awards are part of the Western Australian Government’s goal of increasing Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) participation in WA schools, encouraging schools to integrate STEM across the curriculum.
“STEM skills are the foundation of Western Australia’s future workforce, and our schools play an important role in cultivating students’ interest and abilities in STEM skills,” said Science Minister Dave Kelly.
The awards recognise school leadership and student engagement in STEM education. Awards and prizes for primary and secondary schools in 2019 include:
- The Leadership Excellence Award (winner);
- The Meritorious Leadership Award (runner-up);
- An invitation for staff members and students to visit Government House; and
- A Scitech visit for up to 90 students for metropolitan schools or free rental and delivery of a DIY Science Kit for eight weeks.
Finalists will be announced in September 2019 and invited to an awards ceremony at Government House later in the year, where winners will be announced by the Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia.
The Western Australian Government also recently released WA’s first-ever State STEM skills strategy, ‘Future Jobs, Future Skills: driving STEM skills in Western Australia’, which aims to ensure Western Australians have STEM skills for jobs of the future.
“The State Government launched the State’s first-ever STEM skills strategy in May this year to reinforce the importance of schools across all systems and sectors providing quality STEM education programs for students,” Minister Kelly added.
Applications for the 2019 Governor’s School STEM Awards will be open from 24 June to 19 August 2019. For more information, please click here.