Science numbers improving

The Courier Mail, Emily Sherlock, 24 February 2008

Reports commissioned by the Australian Council of Deans of Science (ACDS) have found that the number of university students studying maths, chemistry and physics has dropped significantly over the past two decades. Yet Australia’s
chief scientist, Dr Jim Peacock, believes that the ‘depressing’ decline of students studying science will soon begin to
shift.

The Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Ms Julia Gillard, believes that ‘Australia needs the
best maths and science teachers in the world so they can educate the next generation of Australians in the skills
required to build our economy and our future prosperity.’

One of the Rudd Government’s election promises was to halve the HECS debt of any student who studied science and education at university. A science or maths graduate will also have their HECS repayments halved if they ‘take up work’
in a relevant occupation, particularly teaching. Although not yet implemented, this initiative and other government programmes, such as Scientists in Schools, have all lead to encouraging more students to study science at a senior secondary level.

Dr Peacock believes that these initiatives will see the declining numbers in science courses begin to rise again. ‘I would expect that these things will increase the frequency that kids will sign up in the last two years of high school and university, because they would have been generally excited and interested,’ he said.

In addition, the Rudd government has announced that a National Curriculum Board will be established in 2009, to be chaired by Professor Barry McGaw, which will initiate a national science curriculum covering years Prep-Year 12 by 2011.

 

 

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