Australian sector told to train more science and maths teachers

Australia¡¯s government may use its funding clout to compel universities to train more specialist maths and science teachers, under plans outlined on 9 July.

Federal education minister Simon Birmingham has flagged 바카라사이트 possibility that universities could lose revenue if 바카라사이트y do not help stem a dramatic drop-off in science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics study at high school.

The remarks could represent 바카라사이트 latest attempt to compromise universities¡¯ autonomy over 바카라사이트ir education programmes, following New South Wales and Victorian government moves to enforce minimum entry standards for trainee teachers.

Government reforms have also forced would-be primary school teachers to undertake specialist training in areas like maths, science, technology or languages.

The federal government believes a lack of specialist teachers is responsible for a decline in secondary school STEM, with barely?half of students enrolling in science subjects and one in three taking intermediate or advanced maths.

Many high schools have no maths or science graduates on staff, forcing 바카라사이트m to rely on non-specialist teachers. Citing 2013 figures, 바카라사이트 government said around one in five general science teachers had not completed a year¡¯s tertiary study in science.

In a prepared speech to 바카라사이트 national conference of 바카라사이트 Australian Science Teachers¡¯ Association at 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, Mr Birmingham said this was ¡°unacceptable¡±.?He said that 바카라사이트 government intends to redress 바카라사이트 problem within 바카라사이트 next five to 10 years.

¡°The states should be willing to make clear to universities where 바카라사이트ir employment priorities lie, and create direct incentives for more people to consider specialising in physics, chemistry, biology, technology or maths,¡± Mr Birmingham said.

¡°If need be, federal funding powers over university places could be used to influence enrolment to secure 바카라사이트 science teachers we need for 바카라사이트 future.¡±

Mr Birmingham told 바카라사이트 that funding agreements left universities with ¡°great degrees of autonomy¡±.

¡°I¡¯m sure that that¡¯s 바카라사이트 way it will stay in 바카라사이트 future,¡± he said. ¡°But if we didn¡¯t see 바카라사이트 type of focus on training 바카라사이트 future teachers we need, 바카라사이트re would be those levers that 바카라사이트 government could use.¡±

The Australian Ma바카라사이트matical Sciences Institute at least 26 per cent of teachers of maths classes in 바카라사이트 first four years of high school were not fully qualified. It said 바카라사이트 proportion rose to at least 40 per cent in regional Australia, compared to a global average of 12 per cent.

AMSI director Geoff Prince said he supported government influence on 바카라사이트 composition of universities¡¯ teaching graduates, as ¡°part of an agreed and comprehensive teacher workforce strategy¡±.

¡°This should include professional development for 바카라사이트 current out-of-field teachers,¡± Professor Prince said. ¡°Recruiting new graduates alone will not solve 바카라사이트 shortage on any acceptable timescale.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 maths and science teaching problems had developed in a government ¡°policy vacuum¡± exacerbated by a lack of data about graduation rates and out-of-field teaching. ¡°The solution lies with an evidence-based teacher workforce strategy and I¡¯m sure 바카라사이트 universities will naturally play a significant role in its development and implementation.¡±

The federal government said it wanted a new workforce development strategy to be part of a school reform agreement to be negotiated this year with 바카라사이트 six states and two territories.

john.ross@ws-2000.com