❓ Opposition asks the Minister for Education if they agree with curriculum reviewers' assessment that Australian teachers are 'untrained and unskilled' in literacy. The Minister strongly disagrees and defends the teaching profession, while raising concerns about maintaining rigorous entry standards for teaching programs.
AnsweredQoN 1162Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
TEACHERS — ENGLISH CURRICULUM
1162. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for
Education:
Does the minister share the views
expressed by Barry Spurr and Fiona Mueller, who reviewed the English
curriculum, that Australian teachers are the problem in literacy and are ''untrained
and unskilled''?
1162. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for
Education:
Does the minister share the views
expressed by Barry Spurr and Fiona Mueller, who reviewed the English
curriculum, that Australian teachers are the problem in literacy and are ''untrained
and unskilled''?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
the question—no, I do not thank her! As a former teacher, I think our
teachers are very well qualified. Having said that, we have to be careful—this
is relevant—that we do not allow entry levels for teaching to
deteriorate, as has been occurring in some tertiary institutions. We have to
maintain rigour with entry levels for those who want to move into teaching and
not allow some people who did not get into their first or second choice to come
into teaching. Having said that, I have great respect and faith in our teaching
profession and I certainly do not agree with that attitude.
the question—no, I do not thank her! As a former teacher, I think our
teachers are very well qualified. Having said that, we have to be careful—this
is relevant—that we do not allow entry levels for teaching to
deteriorate, as has been occurring in some tertiary institutions. We have to
maintain rigour with entry levels for those who want to move into teaching and
not allow some people who did not get into their first or second choice to come
into teaching. Having said that, I have great respect and faith in our teaching
profession and I certainly do not agree with that attitude.
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