This proposal would establish a bursary program to encourage high‐performing students to enter initial teacher education. Under the program 500 bursaries would be provided in 2020, 1,000 bursaries in each year from 2021 to 2030. Each bursary would be valued at $10,000 a year.

• Bursaries would be available to students with high academic performance in Year 12 who are entering initial teacher education, or to those entering postgraduate teaching qualifications in areas of high demand (primarily maths and science).
• 10 per cent of bursaries would be for those entering postgraduate teaching qualifications in areas of high demand (primarily maths and science).

Bursaries will be fully payable to recipients on the census date of 31 March each year.

Bursary payments would be non‐taxable income for income tax purposes and would not be included as part of the student payment income test.

The proposal would have effect from 1 January 2020.