Science Teacher Education in Australia: Initiatives and Challenges to Improve the Quality of Teaching

Abstract

In this article, we describe how teachers in the Australian school system are educated to teach science and the different qualifications that teachers need to enter the profession. The latest comparisons of Australian students in international science assessments have brought about various accountability measures to improve the quality of science teachers at all levels. We discuss the issues and implications of government initiatives in preservice and early career teacher education programs, such as the implementation of national science curriculum, the stricter entry requirements to teacher education programs, an alternative pathway to teaching and the measure of effectiveness of teacher education programs. The politicized discussion and initiatives to improve the quality of science teacher education in Australia are still unfolding as we write in 2014.

Keywords:

• Initial teacher education
• Early career teacher induction
• National standards of teaching
• Quality of teachers

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank David Wood, Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, for his important contributions to discussions during the early preparation of this article and Emeritus Professor Mark W. Hackling, Edith Cowan University, for providing a valuable critique of the article prior to initial submission to the Journal of Science Teacher Education.

Notes

1 Australia is a federation of states (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia) and territories (Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory), each with its own Department of Education and Teacher Registration Board. Each state’s education department is responsible for the funding of schools and state curricula. Each teacher registration board has the responsibility of registering new and continuing teachers and accrediting initial teacher education programs in the state.

2 Generally, eight units per year constitute a full-time university study. Each unit is equivalent to four contact hours per week.

3 In Australia, government (public) and non-government (private) schools are two major education sectors. Non-government schools consist of Catholic and Independent schools, most of which have a religious affiliation.