Content area
Full text
Setting high entry standards for university teaching courses is essential, says Federation President Maurie Mulheron.
He said the Federal Government has "squibbed" on setting a minimum university entrance score in its response to a Ministerial Advisory Group report on teacher education.
"It's a lost opportunity to lift entry standards into teacher education nationally," Mr Mulheron said. "A rising tide lifts all ships." (In NSW, school leavers entering teaching degrees from 2016 will need to achieve three band 5 HSC results including in English.)
"Teaching is highly complex, sophisticated and intellectually demanding work," Mr Mulheron emphasised. "Not everyone can be a teacher; that's why we need rigorous entry standards into teacher training.
"Teaching is rocket science, as [California's Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education Faculty Director] Professor Linda Darling-Hammond said."
Australian...