Piccoli firm over teaching benchmark

By Josephine Tovey, Amy McNeilage. NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli has refused to back away from his plans to set benchmarks for new teachers based on HSC results, despite universities saying they may not implement the plan. Universities threw their support behind a Commonwealth government plan announced on Monday for new standards for teaching students which include an assessment of aptitude but do not set a minimum standard academic result.
Applicants could be screened for their suitability for teaching via methods which could include ''interviews, demonstrated values and aptitude, and a written statement.''
The move comes less than a week after the NSW government announced its own reforms aimed at improving the quality of teaching, including setting minimum HSC requirements for school leavers hoping to enter teaching degrees. Read more...