Education Minister Peter Garrett Mr Garrett says the proposed changes are part of the government's commitment to "raising the quality of teaching at every stage of a teacher's career''. Picture: Kym Smith Source: NewsLocal
ASPIRING teachers would have to perform community work, pass stringent new NAPLAN-style exams - as well as emotional intelligence and aptitude testing - in order to graduate into the nation's classrooms, under a new Federal Government plan.
Labor ministers will today announce sweeping reform to the university admissions and graduation process aimed at improving teacher quality, as part of its National Plan for School Improvement.
From 2016, anyone wishing to enter a teaching degree would be asked to provide a written statement outlining their suitability for a place, as well as undergoing a series of interviews to test whether they have the resilience and emotional intelligence or EQ for the role.
They would also have to demonstrate suitable values and aptitude by providing a portfolio of activities such as coaching a sports team, volunteer work or community involvement.
In order to graduate as teachers they would need to perform in the top 30 per cent of the population in numeracy and literacy tests, which would be part of their course.
Teaching students who failed to meet the benchmark would be offered classes to meet the requirements.
Education Minister Peter Garrett and Tertiary Education Minister Chris Bowen will also announce changes to practicum placements, with a national approach replacing the state-by-state arrangements currently in place.
Qualified teachers who supervise prac placements will also have to meet new training and experience standards.
Mr Garrett said the proposed changes were part of the government's commitment to "raising the quality of teaching at every stage of a teacher's career''.
"Our plan will make sure that only those people who have high levels of literacy and numeracy, a dedication for teaching and a great classroom practice will graduate and enter our schools,'' he said.
"It will mean principals will have confidence in the abilities of their new staff, and parents can be confident that every teacher has gone through a rigorous selection and training process.''
Starting next year, there will also be a review of all teaching courses by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.
The Government said it was working with universities to ensure the changes were in place by 2016, although it expects some institutions will implement them earlier.
The changes follow increased debate about the impact of teacher quality on student outcomes. The NSW State Government last week set a minimum entry standard into teaching courses of at least 80 per cent in three subjects including English, and called for a numeracy and literacy benchmarks for graduate teachers.
A Productivity Commission report last year found Australian students have fallen behind other OECD countries despite increased spending per student and falling class sizes and said more effective teachers would help improve standards.
Professor Scott Prasser, executive director of the public policy institute at Australian Catholic University, said addressing both entry scores and course work was ``a step in the right direction.''
Mr Garrett said attracting the best candidates into teaching was essential to improve education standards.
"We already have thousands of great teachers in our schools. But we can always do more to make sure that everyone entering the profession has the skills, personal capacity, and the passion, to be the best teacher possible,'' Mr Garrett said.
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