The Victorian government will support high-ability students at government schools, such as those in Hume and Whittlesea, to reach their full potential through funding for a new excellence program.
The latest state budget invested an extra $37 million to ensure high-achieving students have access to programs that challenge them to extend themselves and to boost the capacity of schools and teachers to deliver these extension programs.
The funding package includes $11.2 million to expand the Victorian High-Ability Program, supporting up to 57,000 government school students in Years 5 to 8 to participate in intensive online extension and enrichment programs in English and mathematics, expanding the program to a further 9000 students.
A further $6.4 million will continue the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series, which delivers engaging extension activities and excursions for 100,000 high-achieving students from Prep to Year 12 through universities, tech schools and other expert education organisations.
These activities include a wide variety of subjects, such as robotics, biomimicry, food sustainability, screenwriting, nutrition, app creation, philosophy and neuroscience.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said the government had built a public school system that works for every student whether they need more support with their learning, or to be pushed to extend themselves.
Victorian education minister James Merlino said every government school in Victoria had access to the Student Excellence Program, in order to make sure all students’ talents, passions and achievements are supported and celebrated.
