Offers made to Victorians pursuing educations courses have jumped 11 per cent the last year, in promising signs to combat the state’s teacher shortages.
Data released on Friday by the tertiary admissions centre showed there was an 8.1 per cent increase in first preference applications for education courses compared to 2023.
On Friday, 3,140 offers were made to study education courses, an 11.2 per cent increase compared to 2023.
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Of all offers made, education courses made up 4.3 per cent, up from 3.8 per cent.
It comes after the Victoria government announced scholarships in September which would cover the costs of teaching degrees – practically making tuition free.
The government’s scholarships however only cover secondary school teaching courses and is available to those who begin studying in 2024 or 2025.
It’s a part of a $229.8 million package to grow the workforce and is similar to the package to cover the cost of nursing degrees.
At the time of the announcement, the state government estimated it would support 4,000 future teachers.
In total, 14,472 offers were made to future university, TAFE and independent college students across all areas of study.
The top courses accepting new students included health, 20.9 per cent, society and culture, 19 per cent, management and commerce, 14.6 per cent and natural and physical sciences, 14.5 per cent.
Including earlier offers made, a total of 61,687 domestic offers for study have been released for 2024 courses.