Teachers pleased with science workshop funding.

&NewLine;<p><img class&equals;" alignright size-full wp-image-983" src&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;schoolnewsnz&period;fastrackdev&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2014&sol;08&sol;SND06-Wk1-Judith&lowbar;Nowotarski&lowbar;&lowbar;300x225&period;jpg" alt&equals;"SND06-Wk1-Judith Nowotarski 300x225" style&equals;"margin&colon; 5px&semi; float&colon; right&semi;" width&equals;"300" height&equals;"225" &sol;>NZEI Te Riu Roa has welcomed the government&&num;8217&semi;s announcement of &dollar;160&comma;000 for science workshops for primary and intermediate teachers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p> <&excl;--more--> <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>NZEI President Judith Nowotarski said teachers had been crying out for extra professional development in science ever since the government scrapped the school science advisors more than four years ago&period; The advisors had provided critical support and mentoring for science teachers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>A survey by NZEI Te Riu Roa late last year showed that three quarters of those teachers&comma; principals and support staff that responded indicated they wanted professional development around the teaching of science investigation&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The survey also found that the majority of teachers wanted more professional development around science literacy and the uses of science including the nature of science&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>NZEI was so concerned about the lack of available science training that last November its professional development arm launched a partnership with the MacDiarmid Institute to offer practical science training to early childhood and primary teachers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;Teachers will welcome the announcement and the opportunity to increase their skills and confidence in teaching this important part of our wide curriculum&comma;&&num;8221&semi; Ms Nowotarski said&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;