The youngest learners in NSW are to benefit from additional teachers following 40 early childhood educators being awarded scholarships this week (25 January) to upgrade their qualifications.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell said the scholarships would help preschool and early childhood employees deepen their knowledge of early education by commencing, or upgrading their qualifications to, a bachelor degree in early childhood teaching.
“Education in the first years of a child’s life is some of the most important,” Ms Mitchell said.
“They develop skills crucial to success in school and later life,” she said.
“It also is an important time for the child’s health, educators and parents can pick up early signs of various conditions early.”
Ms Mitchell said early childhood educators were key to this and the scholarships would help some of the brightest educators become even better.
“We recognise that these scholarship recipients will deepen their understanding of early childhood environments and gain additional skills and capabilities which will be passed on to the children they teach,” the Minister said.
“Congratulations to the scholars on their commitment to education, and I wish them every success in their studies and future careers as qualified early childhood teachers,” she said.
Ms Mitchell said the scholarships were worth up to $20,000 each and were awarded under the 2020-2021 Early Childhood Education Scholarships Program.
