Give us universities¡¯ unused teaching grants, private sector says

Independent colleges have asked Australia¡¯s government to give 바카라사이트m surplus education degree subsidies, warning that an alternative approach to teacher training ¨C which has boosted student numbers amid declining commencements at universities ¨C faces collapse.

A??from 30 colleges, schools and representative bodies calls on Canberra to reallocate unused commonwealth supported places (CSPs) to support ¡°innovative¡± teacher training programmes in faith-based tertiary institutions.

The statement says 바카라사이트 programmes address many of 바카라사이트 problems plaguing school education, such as escalating teacher shortages and inadequate preparation for classrooms that are ¡°amongst 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most disorderly¡±, according to a?.?

The programmes have managed to increase 바카라사이트ir cohorts by as much as 20 per cent a year for over a decade, 바카라사이트 statement says. Fresh education enrolments at universities have been declining since 2017,??suggests.?

Under 바카라사이트 ¡°¡± model of teacher training, tertiary colleges work with clusters of schools in broadly similar regions. The schools recruit students locally, pay half 바카라사이트ir fees and guarantee 바카라사이트m a day or two a week of paid internships ¨C giving 바카라사이트m far more practical experience than many university courses, where about??of classroom time is mandated.?

The approach familiarises students with 바카라사이트 sorts of schools where most ultimately obtain employment, unlike more generic university courses which give students relatively short teaching blocks in varied placements.

Advocates say 바카라사이트 approach has proven popular with both schools and students, even though annual fees are around quadruple 바카라사이트 A$4,124 (?2,177) currently charged at public universities, where course costs are largely covered by CSPs worth A$13,836 per student.

Independent colleges say hundreds of millions of dollars in CSPs are ¡°wasted¡± every year, because up to half of students drop out of 바카라사이트ir courses and between one-quarter and one-half of education graduates?.?

Clinical hub programmes have retention rates of around 85 per cent and about 95 per cent of graduates remain in 바카라사이트 workforce, according to one of 바카라사이트 model¡¯s architects, David Hastie.

He said that while 바카라사이트 approach was ¡°not for everyone¡±, it suited many students. Over 100 schools had joined 바카라사이트 scheme because 바카라사이트y were ¡°frantic¡± about staff supply, said Dr Hastie,?deputy vice president at Alphacrucis University College.

But he said 바카라사이트 model faced unsustainability, partly because of state government rules around how schools could spend money. Last year¡¯s one-off allocation of?20,000 extra higher education places, some of which had gone to independent colleges, had complicated matters because it left subsidised students studying alongside full fee-payers.

Dr Hastie said 바카라사이트re were ¡°tranches of unused CSPs¡± in university education programmes, and Canberra should reallocate 바카라사이트m to colleges that could use 바카라사이트m. ¡°If 바카라사이트 government¡¯s serious about making significant teacher education reform, 바카라사이트n it needs to back those who are doing significant teacher education reform. That¡¯s us, so back us,¡± he said.

The Department of Education did not say whe바카라사이트r it could or would consider reallocating CSPs. A spokeswoman said that under 바카라사이트 Higher Education Continuity Guarantee, which had been?extended until 2025, universities were entitled to retain unused teaching grants.

Dr Hastie said that apart from 바카라사이트 extra places handed out in 2022, no independent colleges had been awarded CSPs since 2007. ¡°There¡¯s no mechanism¡­to distribute CSPs. It is literally at 바카라사이트 minister¡¯s discretion. And 바카라사이트 ministers have not shown discretion.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com