UNEMPLOYED Lothians teachers are being targeted by education chiefs in Australia in a bid to solve staff shortages at schools Down Under.

The government of Western Australia is offering to sponsor teachers from Scotland who are keen to work in the sunny state.

Secondary school teachers in maths, physics and chemistry are being sought for the area's 770 schools. English and biology teachers are also in demand.

The campaign was launched after education officials read reports of Scots teaching graduates unable to find jobs. Those with a minimum of four years' university training are being offered a three-year visa.

Sharyn O'Neill, director general of the Department of Education and Training, said: "We also offer to sponsor these teachers for permanent residency after two years of satisfactory service and guarantee full-time employment in a country school. If the teacher decides they don't want permanent residency, we can extend the visa by two years."

- Scotsman
September 26, 2007