The Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University will introduce a new course for Indigenous students next year.
The Bachelor of Education Regional and Remote – Primary (BERR) provides a culturally appropriate pathway for Indigenous students who wish to teach in the primary education sector.
The four-year degree, with a focus on regional and remote teaching and learning, provides quality teacher training in curriculum planning and professional teaching practice.
Successful completion of the degree allows graduates to apply to the Western Australian College of Teaching for registration as a teacher, a prerequisite for employment in any school.
The Centre for Aboriginal Studies held an enrolment and assessment workshop for prospective students on Wednesday 1 December and Thursday 2 December.
Peter Ridley, the Team Leader for the course said prospective students would be coming from all over the state.
“There will be students coming from Wyndham to Albany. We also have one student from Queensland and one from the Northern Territory,” Mr Ridley said.
“At the workshop the students will be tested and interviewed as part of the enrolment program.”
The BERR program is a further development from the Bachelor of Education Conversion Course (BECC).
The BECC began in 2002, with around 70 new Indigenous teachers graduating in the eight years the course ran.
Mr Ridley said the BERR is also looking to be just as successful.
“Already at this stage, we have 45 potential students and are aiming to fill our quota of 60,” he said.
The BERR course commences in February 2011.
Contacts:
Bonnie Ripper, Public Relations, Curtin University
Tel: 08 9266 4364, Mobile: 0401 103 373, Email: b.ripper@curtin.edu.au
Web: http://curtin.edu.au
Peter Ridley, Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin University
Tel: 08 9266 4192, Email: p.ridley@curtin.edu.au
