More than 3,500 high-ability Victorian students at government primary and secondary schools will start an educational extension program in Term 4 to reach their full potential.
Minister for Education James Merlino today announced the first wave of Year 5 to Year 8 students participating in a 10-week intensive $10.1 million Victorian High-Ability Program will start in Term 4.
Up to 48,000 students are expected to take part in the extension program between now and December 2022. The program will be run by Virtual School Victoria and will be followed by a masterclass with students from their local area.
Schools can also nominate high-ability students to participate in a range of free and high-quality extension activities according to their abilities and interests through the new Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series.
Activities in metropolitan Melbourne and regional areas will include webinars, virtual excursions, lectures and online tutorials and will be delivered during school and non-school hours.
The Victorian Government has partnered with more than 20 expert education and not-for-profit organisations, universities, tech schools, teacher associations, science and mathematics specialist centres to deliver the series.
Thousands of students have already taken part in activities in the series during Term 3.
Every government school now has a high-ability practice leader to coordinate their school’s participation in these programs and to support their high-ability students.
The Victorian High Ability Program and the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series are key initiatives of the Victorian Government’s new $60.2 million Student Excellence Program – which is equipping schools with the resources, tools and professional learning opportunities needed to support high-ability students.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Education James Merlino
“We are providing the programs needed to extend and support our high-ability students to excel. This will help schools cater to the educational needs of our brightest sparks and allow them to continue a lifelong love of learning.
“Victorian families can be confident we are providing the best opportunities to stretch and extend high-ability students.”
Reviewed 05 October 2020