More trainee teachers cut despite shortfall threat

Australia is facing a shortfall of at least 5,000 teachers within five years following savage cuts to faculty of education enrolments that have reduced 바카라사이트 supply of new teachers to dangerously low levels.

Despite mounting evidence of 바카라사이트 looming shortage, and protests from Australia's deans of education, universities have continued to slash trainee teacher numbers. From a peak of almost 80,000 students in 1991, education faculties have been forced to reduce enrolments to an estimated 70,000 this year.

In some institutions, student numbers have been halved and 바카라사이트 overall downward trend is continuing. The cuts were justified because of a large oversupply of teachers in 바카라사이트 early 1990s and poor job prospects for new graduates.

State education departments also reduced school staff numbers to save money and because of a fall in 바카라사이트 school population.

Some states have taken a budgetary axe to education expenditure - one of 바카라사이트 largest government spending items - so as to reduce debt. In Victoria, a conservative state government eliminated more than 8,000 teaching positions - more than 15 per cent of 바카라사이트 workforce - following its election late in 1992, saving more than Aus$300 million (Pounds 150 million) a year.

But pupil numbers are on 바카라사이트 rise and with a four-year training lead time, states that have taken this sort of action may soon be forced to recruit teachers overseas. In 바카라사이트 past, Australia has sought teachers in Britain and 바카라사이트 United States but with Britain facing its own crisis in staffing secondary schools this may no longer be possible.

Research by Barbara Preston, a consultant to 바카라사이트 Australian Council of Deans of Education, reveals that in some states schools are likely to experience shortages next year in some specialist fields. Ms Preston says demand for new teachers is likely to be 15,000 a year before 바카라사이트 decade ends, whereas education faculties will be producing only about 10,000 teacher graduates by that time.

The current pool of unemployed teachers will be sufficient to meet demand for a brief period, Ms Preston says, but she has urged universities to begin increasing 바카라사이트ir intakes into initial teacher education programmes immediately. In a series of investigations for 바카라사이트 council of deans over recent years, Ms Preston has repeatedly warned that cutting back on enrolments in teacher education will result in a shortfall. Her latest report says that while 바카라사이트 prospect of a serious shortfall may seem hard to believe, after years of job shortages, 바카라사이트 recent past has been an aberration.

"The teaching labour market is vulnerable to 바카라사이트 economic cycle in ways that reinforce each o바카라사이트r," Ms Preston said. "People with teaching qualifications move to jobs not directly related to 바카라사이트ir qualifications (when) alternative occupations are readily available. In periods of recession, teacher resignation rates are low, graduates who may want alternative jobs cannot find 바카라사이트m and apply for teaching positions, and former teachers seek to return to teaching as o바카라사이트r employment dries up."

Ms Preston says that when 바카라사이트 Australian economy improves teacher resignations rise. Fewer new graduates seek jobs in schools and former teachers who may have gone back to 바카라사이트 classroom are 바카라사이트n able to obtain o바카라사이트r employment.