A new awards program will recognise the contribution international students have made to Victorian schools, announced the Education Minister Martin Dixon.
The program would be open to year 11 and 12 students across the state and would recognise their academic, artistic, community and sporting achievements.
In a statement to the media, Minister Dixon said: “We are very proud of our schools here in Victoria and our family of around 8000 international students is a large part of what makes our education system so good.”
International students have enriched diversity in Victorian schools by bringing different cultures, languages, faiths and values into classrooms, the Minister added.
“Their contribution also goes beyond the classroom to schools as a whole and to the broader community,” Mr Dixon said.
“Victoria is one of the world’s great multicultural societies with more than 230 languages from more than 200 countries spoken and more than 120 different faiths followed. As Victorians we value our cultural diversity because it is part of what makes Victoria such a dynamic, prosperous and exciting place to live.”
Nominations are set to open in October for the categories of: Academic Excellence;, Arts Achievement; Sports Achievement; Student Leadership;, Community Participation; and Global Citizenship.
Finalists and winners will be announced at an official ceremony planned for early 2013.
