The most significant improvement in teacher education in a generation has taken a major step forward with registrations opening today and the appointment of the administrator for the National Literacy and Numeracy Test.
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said registrations for the Turnbull Government’s literacy and numeracy test for new Australian teachers open today.
“We’ve appointed the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to deliver the Test for teaching students so we can have even better teachers in Australia’s classrooms,” Minister Birmingham said.
“The Turnbull Government’s test for teaching graduates will ensure Australian children are taught by educators with literacy and numeracy skills in the top 30 per cent of the population.
“Students graduating from teaching courses need to be able to cope with the demands of teaching and set good examples for their students. I’m sure Australian parents will agree that requires strong literacy and numeracy skills.
“It is encouraging that 92 per cent of the students who sat the pilot test last year passed the literacy component and 90 per cent passed the numeracy component, but it still concerns me that up to one in ten did not. This test ensures graduating teachers meet the new benchmark for literacy or numeracy.
“This test is one element of the Turnbull Government’s plans to improve teacher quality and to do more than just throw money at the situation like Labor has proposed. Entry criteria for teaching courses are also being strengthened, while primary school teachers will, in future, be expected to hold a specialisation in a STEM or language field of study.
“The Turnbull Government is committed to ensuring the best and brightest teachers are shaping the minds of future generations of Australians.”
Minister Birmingham said that from 1 July this year all initial teacher education students will be required to pass the National Literacy and Numeracy Test before graduation. The test will be delivered flexibly and available to students through a mix of physical testing centres and online delivery.
“Early access to the test will be made available in May to those students who are due to complete their courses in 2016,” Minister Birmingham said.
“Any students currently studying to become teachers should ensure they have all the information they need about the test to understand exactly what will be expected of them.
“ACER has extensive international and national experience in test development and delivery and I have every confidence that they will fairly and effectively administer the National Literacy and Numeracy Test for teaching students.”
Further information about the test can be found on the Students First website at
www.studentsfirst.gov.au/teacher-quality and will be available on ACER’s website www.teacheredtest.acer.edu.au