Western Australia’s primary and secondary schools have been encouraged to apply for the 2019 Governor’s School STEM Awards, which recognise outstanding whole-of-school STEM education.
The awards are part of the Western Australian government’s stated goal of increasing STEM participation in WA schools and encourages schools to integrate STEM across the curriculum. In particular, 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 and invited to an awards ceremony at Government House later in the year, where winners will be announced by the Governor of Western Australia, Kim Beazley.
“It is a privilege to support the Governor’s School STEM Awards again in 2019,” Beazley said.
“I look forward to hearing about the work taking place in schools throughout the State to support students’ problem solving skills and their enthusiasm for working in STEM fields.”
The state government recently released WA’s 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.
“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,” state science minister Dave Kelly said.
“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.
“Winning schools in this year’s awards will serve as role models for STEM education in WA.”