The Science Teachers' Association of Victoria (STAV) is a professional association of Science Educators from all education systems and the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. STAV is a non party-political association. However, as a professional group STAV has an interest in the outcome of any election - either at the state or federal level.

Consequently we invited the three main parties to respond to a number of questions about science and science education. The parties were given a week to respond.

The Questions were:

1. What is your party's vision for science education at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels?
2. What does your party think science is for?
3. What is the social purpose and significance of science and science education in Australia?
4. Given that 50% of the teaching population is within retirement age in the next 7 years, how would you encourage able recent graduates into science teaching?
5. How would you address declining enrolments in senior secondary and tertiary science studies?
6. Do you have any special plans for special programs targeting science education?
7. Should beginning science teachers pay a differential HECS to non-science teachers?
8. Given that 25% of beginning science teachers abandon plans to teach within 3 years of teacher training, how can we keep excellent teachers teaching?

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Published: 23/09/98

Author: John Werry, STAV Vice President