The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie welcomed today’s $16.9 million Coalition Government investment that will ensure teacher graduates are classroom ready.
“As a former school teacher, I understand how important it is to ensure our graduate teachers are ready to teach from the first day they enter the classroom,” Senator McKenzie said.
“To have a world class education system, we need world class teachers and that requires a strong commitment from government backed up with dollars.
“This government has put its money where its mouth is and is further proof of our commitment to delivering a quality and accessible education system for all Australian students.”
Senator McKenzie said the $16.9 million investment would support the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) to implement the recommendations of the Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group report, released earlier this year.
“This significant investment will enable AITSL to improve teacher graduates’ knowledge base, starting with the introduction of a literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education students from 2015,” Senator McKenzie said.
“It will also deliver, for the first time, specialisation for primary school teachers with a focus on science, technology, engineering, mathematics and languages, as well as a greater focus on how to teach reading, writing and phonetics.
“AITSL will also ensure graduates produce a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their teaching skills before entering the classroom, and look at ways to better match teacher skills with the changing needs of schools and students.”
Senator McKenzie praised Minister for Education and Training Christopher Pyne for his strong commitment to improving teacher standards in Australia.
As Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Education and Employment, Senator McKenzie said she would continue to focus on improving education outcomes for Australian students.
“Today’s announcement is a great step forward, as was Minister Pyne’s recent announcement that the government will invest $840 million over two years to extend Universal Access to Early Childhood Education,” Senator McKenzie said.
“We must continue to invest in our education system to ensure it not only keeps up with the rest of the developed world, but exceeds it.”
Media contact: Ben Bulmer 0488 747 770 benjamin.bulmer@aph.gov.au