Acting Education Minister Stuart Robert announces advisor on quality and cash

Who’s the boss: Uni Sydney VC Mark Scott will chair the Teacher Education Quality Assurance Expert Panel. Other panellists are not appointed but will have expertise in ITE, higher education, education reform, school leadership, government policy and teaching.

What’s the job: The panel will advise on “an assessment mechanism for initial teacher education to improve the quality of ITE programmes.”

The “minimum threshold” it develops “will be reflected in revised and strengthened” accreditation.  And an “excellence” threshold will “identify higher education providers demonstrating high-quality delivery ITE”.

Why this matters: “The panel, in consultation with stakeholders, will develop advice for the government to consider on the most appropriate mechanisms to link these thresholds to funding incentives to ensure delivery of quality ITE courses’.”

Where this comes from: The announcement occurred as Mr Robert released the report of the unfortunately acronymed Quality Initial Teacher Education Review (scroll down).

QITER was established by presently stood-down education minister, Alan Tudge whose admiration for teacher education faculties is not boundless. Twice last year he criticised them for “ideology and fads” in  “instructional practice” and warned that the Government could “use the full leverage of the $760m” it provides for teacher training (CMM October 25, November 9)

Reaction: The Australian Council of Deans of Education will respond to yesterday’s announcement after a board meeting today.

However Claire Wyatt-Smith, (Australian Catholic U), who leads the consortium of 19 universities which is undertaking the Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment, did not delay. The review, “strengthens the turn to research-informed innovation and evidence-informed practice,” said Professor Wyatt-Smith.  “While the field of teacher preparation has changed considerably in the last decade, much remains to be done.  Areas to progress include clarifying the function of standards and evidence to show how standards have been met, especially at the point of entering the workforce, “ she said.