15 December 2005
Teaching staff from Monash University's Education faculty will train primary and secondary educators in New South Wales under an agreement signed with that state's Department of Education.
Monash won an open tender bid to deliver re-training programs for special and inclusive education teachers. The three-year training program, to start in second semester 2006, will have an annual intake of 70 participants.
The trainees will gain a Postgraduate Diploma of Education (Special and Inclusive) through the course, which will be delivered at venues in Sydney and NSW regional TAFE colleges.
The training will be a supported distance education model, including intensive face-to-face teaching, online tutorials and other resources.
The Development Manager of Monash's Faculty of Education, Ms Sarah Newton, said the NSW Department of Education chose Monash because it offered a training model based on leading-edge research and flexible delivery and methodology.
"They liked the fact that we underpin the whole delivery with an action research model that allows trainees to receive practice work and participate in research," Ms Newton said.
"So participants are not just learning, but reflecting on and applying what they have learnt. There is continuous improvement through researching their organisational approaches and their own practice.
"Our model of inclusive education aims to integrate students with diverse needs into mainstream education so they can become productive in school and in the wider community," Ms Newton said.
The delivery team is headed by Professor Dennis Moore, Director of the Krongold Centre in Monash's Education faculty.
For more information, contact Ms Robyn Anns, Media Communications, Monash University on +61 3 9905 9317 or 0417 568 781.
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