Proposed changes to ITE
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128, 25 August 2023, page no.8
A panel of education experts has proposed a range of recommendations designed to strengthen initial teacher education (ITE) and support beginning teachers as they enter the profession.
The Teacher Education Expert Panel explored how to strengthen ITE programs to deliver well-prepared beginning teachers, enhance the link between performance and funding of ITE, improve the quality of practical experience in teaching, and improve postgraduate ITE programs for mid-career entrants.
In their report “Strong Beginnings”, the panellists – Professor Mark Scott AO, Emeritus Professor Bill Louden AM, Professor Michele Simons, Dr Jenny Donovan, Mr Andrew Peach, and Ms Rebecca West – made 14 recommendations, including the following.
- The establishment of mandated “core content” to be embedded in ITE programs. This core content is to focus on:
- the brain and learning
- effective pedagogical practices
- classroom management
- responsive teaching.
- Strengthening of the quality and consistency of ITE programs across the country.
- Establishing nationally consistent indicators in such areas as:
- selection
- retention
- preparedness of beginning teachers
- transition of recently graduated teachers into early career roles.
- Streamlining reporting requirements in accreditation processes.
- Providing “transition” and “excellence” funds to assist universities in transitioning to new programs.
- Establishing co-ordination and national guidelines for practical experience.
- Increasing investment in practical experience programs.
- Ensuring professional recognition for mentor teachers.
- Developing and promoting mid-career pathways into ITE.
The expert panel was established in the wake of the Quality Initial Teacher Education Review, which was initiated in April 2021 by the former federal government to consider:
- attracting and selecting high-quality candidates to the teaching profession
- preparing ITE students to be effective teachers.
The review received 242 written submissions from individuals and key stakeholder organisations, including the QTU via the Australian Education Union (AEU). The report that emerged from the review, “Next Steps”, was released in February 2022, and outlined recommendations under three key areas.
How to:
- attract high-quality, diverse candidates into ITE
- ensure their preparation is practical and evidence-based
- best support early career teachers.
The panel was established in response to recommendation 15 of the report – to develop a quality measure for ITE courses.
The QTU is supportive of many of the proposed changes to ITE programs. We will continue to advocate for pre-service teachers and the teachers and education leaders who support new teachers as they transition into the profession. We continue to fight to improve payments for supervising teachers and co-ordinators, and for the (re)introduction of adequate mentoring and beginning teacher resources to assist early career teachers and their mentors.
We are supportive of ITE programs that are rigorous and result in confident, reflective, knowledgeable, and well-prepared educators who are ready to follow their predecessors into this noble profession.
As a key stakeholder, the QTU will continue to be involved in the ongoing dialogue and consultation about strengthening initial teacher education.