14 Sep 2023

Who teaches our teachers?

From Nine To Noon, 9:20 am on 14 September 2023
Young asian woman teacher teaching kids in kindergarten classroom, preschool education concept

Photo: 123RF

Are our teachers getting the best education, before getting in front of the classroom?

A new report by the think tank The New Zealand Initiative says the current university model of teacher education has major flaws.

These include an insufficient focus on the science of learning; too little practical classroom experience for trainee teachers; inconsistent mentoring of trainees and poor preparation of primary teachers to teach across the curriculum, especially in mathematics and science.

Kathryn speaks with report co-author Michael Johnston, former Victoria University Associate Dean, former Senior Statistician at the Qualifications Authority, now Senior Research Fellow at the New Zealand Initiative.