Govt pays to put pupils into science

The Government is providing nearly $600,000 for a new academy to encourage more secondary school pupils into science careers.

Otago University and Education Minister Anne Tolley said yesterday the Advanced School Sciences Academy would have its first 50 students next year.

The academy's catchment will include small, rural and low-decile secondary schools in Canterbury and elsewhere around the country. It will also include professional development for science teachers at those schools.

Tolley said the initial funding of $593,000 would be invested over two years in the "exciting new venture".

"The Government has made it clear that investment in science is vital for lifting the long-term performance of our economy," she said.

The programme would focus on mathematics, biology, chemistry, computing and physics.

Royal Society of New Zealand president Garth Carnaby said that if the programme "enables students from smaller schools to have access to qualified tuition at this critical stage it is positive".

Otago University deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international) Professor Vernon Squire said about 10 schools in Canterbury had been selected for the pilot programme. Schools would nominate pupils as they completed year 12 study.

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