Photo: Nottingham Trent University

Minister for Education James Merlino today announced 360 government funded scholarships for Victorian teachers to undertake a Master of Education specialising in inclusive and special education or applied behaviour analysis as part of an $11.5 million scholarship program.

The Inclusive Education Grants initiative is part of the $61 million suite of inclusive education reform activities announced by the Labor Government last year.

The program ensures that every child, especially those who already face additional challenges, gets a great education to enable them to reach their full potential.

The scholarships provide an opportunity for teachers in government schools to develop their skills to build supportive environments that promote inclusion in their schools and enable the workforce to reach a new level of teaching excellence.

On offer are 60 Master of Education (Applied Behaviour Analysis) scholarships, which will enable teachers and regional staff to learn how to address student behaviour support needs through a newly established, internationally recognised course at Monash University.

A further 300 Master of Education (with a special needs specialisation) scholarships are available for teachers and staff to learn how to better facilitate the inclusion of students.

Masters qualified staff can provide significant input into school planning to better support students with disabilities and additional learning needs.

A ceremony was held last night to celebrate the first thirty-nine scholarship recipients who are currently undertaking specialist training to better support their students. At the ceremony Dr Graeme Innes AM, disability advocate and former Disability Discrimination Commissioner, spoke about the importance of inclusion in schools.

Supporting students and young children with disabilities and additional needs and strengthening inclusive education is a key Education State priority.