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Education minister Jason Clare
‘ Systemic issues ’
Unis respond to the government ’ s proposed teaching reforms
By Erin Nixon
University experts have said that the federal government ’ s plan to overhaul teacher education in Australia fails to address key workforce issues driving teachers away from schools .
The expert panel , chaired by Sydney University vice-chancellor Mark Scott , released its final report on 7 July .
Strong Beginnings : Report of the Teacher Education Expert Panel ( TEEP report ) detailed 14 reform recommendations to improve the way teachers are educated in Australia ’ s universities .
The list of recommended reforms includes embedding core content and improving the quality of ITE programs , as well as promoting mid-career pathways for teachers .
The report also proposes a plan of action to attract and retain high-quality candidates into ITE long-term .
Monash University ’ s deputy dean of education , associate professor Louise Jenkins , said the report “ fails to focus on the systemic issue of low salaries and heavy workloads for Australian teachers .”
“ Overall , the report does not address the workplace ( including conditions and pay ) issues that make the greatest difference in the retention and further development of teachers and their teaching ,” Professor Jenkins said .
“ More blame-shifting , bureaucracy , and reviews are not the answer .”
The TEEP report recommended four reform areas to “ strengthen the quality and experience of ITE courses at Australian universities .”
Australian Catholic University ( ACU ) released a statement that said it supported the report ’ s focus on core content learning areas for ITE students .
“[ The report ] speaks to the importance of ensuring robust , effective , and accountable ITE programs across all providers ,” ACU executive education dean Mary Ryan said .
A 2022 Quality Initial Teacher Education ( QITE ) review found that “ many new teachers are underprepared to teach in several key areas , including reading and classroom management .”
The TEEP report recommends mandating core content in ITE qualifications ; however , most Australian student teachers are already taught core content as part of their degrees .
The report also recommended that Australian universities be responsible for monitoring performance against indicators . ■
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