Study Awards for Early Childhood Teachers

Māori Medium/Bilingual Teaching Study Award

The Māori Medium/bilingual education study award targets teachers or principals who work in designated level one (80-100%) and level two (51-79%) reo Māori classroom settings in state or state integrated schools, or early childhood centres.

Each year there are 42 awards available. The award provides time off for study to attend for one year an approved course at specific institutions.

Recipients of the award receive time off for study and a contribution towards fees, accommodation and travel or removal expenses. The recipient's school receives relief funding while the recipient is on leave.

Purpose

The purpose of the Māori medium/bilingual teaching study award is to increase the supply of quality teachers and encourage teachers to increase their proficiency and skill in Te Reo, Tikanga Māori and their skills as Māori medium teachers.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for a Māori medium/bilingual teaching study award, you must be:

• fully registered as an early childhood, primary or secondary teacher
• permanently employed in a Kohanga Reo, Puna Reo, chartered early childhood service or a state or state integrated school.

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Linking Minds Scholarship

Linking Minds is a prestigious international award for young teachers who identify themselves as emerging leaders. The award is sponsored by the NZ – UK Link Foundation, the British Council, the New Zealand Teachers Council and the Ministry of Education. The award funds four New Zealand teachers to spend two weeks in the United Kingdom over the New Zealand school holiday period. Awardees are attached to a Local Authority in the United Kingdom and will explore best practice in a given area. The costs of travel, accommodation and general living expenses including interview and selection costs will be met.

The Ministry of Education will fund the employment of a relief teacher for eight days, provided the scholarship is awarded to a staff member of a state or state integrated primary school, intermediate school, area school or secondary school and subject to the granting of leave with pay to the scholar by the board of trustees.

Purpose

The programme aims to recognise and promote effective teaching by providing international experience for teachers early in their careers. The focus area is professional leadership. Selected teachers will have opportunities to build on and develop new knowledge, skills and confidence in their leadership capacity both as classroom teachers and as leaders in their schools.

Eligibility

Participants must be in their first five years as a fully New Zealand registered teacher in the schools sector and must be under 35 years old.

When to apply

The Linking Minds award are available in 2010. Please see the application form for the confirmed closing date, updated criteria for the award can be found on the British Council website.

For further information on the eligibility criteria and scholarship benefits please visit the British Council website.