Clarence MP, Chris Gulaptis has congratulated two Clarence Valley-based early childhood educators who have each been awarded scholarships of up to $10,000 from the NSW Government to assist with the cost of upgrading their qualifications to a four-year bachelor’s degree. Mr Gulaptis said the recipients, Michelle Call and Sabrina Allen, are both employed at the Goodstart Early Learning Centre in Grafton and were awarded the scholarship under the NSW Government’s Rural and Remote Early Childhood Teaching Scholarships program. “The aim of the program is to increase the number of four-year university qualified early childhood teachers in rural and remote areas of NSW and in turn strengthen early childhood education in these communities. “The importance of quality early childhood education cannot be understated as it gives children the best start in life.” “I am thrilled that Michelle and Sabrina have been successful in being awarded a scholarship, and wish them every success in their future studies and careers.” Mr Gulaptis said up to 30 scholarships will be awarded every year for four years from 2016-2019 to early childhood teachers working in rural and remote locations across NSW to assist with the upgrade of their qualifications. Further details about the scholarships and the application process are available on the Department of Education website – http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/what-we-offer/regulation-and-accreditation/early-childhood-education-care/scholarships/rural-and-remote-scholarships.