Mentor program to help increase number of primary male teachers

USQ's Faculty of Education is taking steps towards addressing the shortage of male teachers in primary schools through a new mentor training workshop.

20 local male primary school teachers will attend the workshop, tomorrow (Tuesday 3 April 2007).

The 20 teachers will be given the tools at the workshop to mentor USQ education students, in an effort to increase the number of male teachers at primary schools.

'Tomorrow will be a professional development session to support these twenty teachers,' workshop co-ordinator and education lecturer Stephen Smith said.

'The teachers will be mentoring first and second year USQ male pre-service teachers, through which we will be hoping to increase the number of male teachers within primary schools.'

Run by the University for the first time, the workshop is part of a learning and teaching development grant project.

'The project is entitled ‘USQ MUM', which stands for ‘unearthing student quality mentors upskilling men',' Mr Smith said.

'We received $9600 from the University for the project, which key focus is to enhance the teaching competency of male pre-service teachers.'

With male teacher numbers in Queensland primary schools on the decline, Mr Smith said that workshops such as this were vital.

'It is important for primary school students to have a male teacher at some point, as males go about the job differently.

'Male teachers tend to get more involved in extra-curricular activities and have a different sense of humour.'

Although not compulsory, students were encouraged to take part in the program.

'This is completely voluntary, with both the teachers and students volunteering to take part in the program,' he said.

'It is separate from their practical experience, so the students can take part without the threat of assessment and can gain extra in-school experience.'

The workshop will run between 9:30am and 3:30pm at the Drayton Bowls Club.

Media are welcome to attend.

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628