Students teachers blocked from graduating after failing controversial test left with ‘worthless’ degrees

Student teachers say they have been left with “worthless” degrees and unable to graduate after failing compulsory tests critics say are too high stress and disadvantage people from certain backgrounds.

Student teachers blocked from graduating due to failing a controversial literacy and numeracy test claim they are being left with “worthless” degrees.

Since 2016 Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) has become a compulsory part of graduating with an education degree.

About 1 in 10 candidates fail the tests on the first attempt, which are aimed at ensuring graduates have literacy and numeracy levels at the equivalent level of the top 30 per cent of the population.

A petition was launched this week calling for students who commenced their study before the introduction of the tests to be allowed to graduate, and has already attracted almost 600 signatures.

Students are given three chances to pass, and must pay almost $200 each time.

But some critics claim the tests are too high stress, disadvantage students from certain backgrounds, and fail in their goal of maintaining graduate standards.

One student told The Courier-Mail they had finished their Master’s Degree in secondary education, but had not been able to graduate due to not passing the numeracy component.

“I managed to get through the literacy, but I have terrible test anxiety and the time limit just makes it so much harder,” she said.

“I only have one attempt left before I am unable to get my degree and my university have been so unhelpful, just stating that I should have been more prepared.

“I spend at least two hours a day studying towards it but have not yet booked in my third attempt due to fear of failing.”

The student said that if they do not pass their third attempt they will graduate with a diploma, which will not allow them to be registered.

She would also not be permitted to re-enrol again in a teaching degree.

Student teachers who failed the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education claim their degrees are “worthless”. Picture: istock

The student said they had even been offered a job at their final placement, which they were unable to accept due to not passing the test.

“The mental and emotional toil it takes on you is unreal and they are counting so many teachers out of jobs because of it – when there is a shortage of teachers,” she said.

Queensland Teachers’ Union president Cresta Richardson said the union “did not believe that a one dimensional literacy and numeracy test is sufficient to maintain graduate standards as a pre requisite for teacher registration”.

A Department of Education Skills and Employment spokesman said “strong personal literacy and numeracy skills are essential attributes for all teachers to be effective in the classroom”.

“While they are only one element of what makes a good schoolteacher, they are critical to the development of strong personal literacy and numeracy skills in students,” he said.

“Currently, almost all states and territories require ITE students to meet the test standards before graduation.

“Education Ministers have agreed that, from 2023, students who are planning to enrol in an ITE course will have the option to sit the test before they commence their studies.”

A Queensland University of Technology spokeswoman said students were expected to undertake LANTITE in their first year of study, and were expected to have passed both components before undertaking any placements.

“The Student Support Group provides dedicated support for students, both before their first attempt, and they provide support for students who have not passed an attempt,” she said.

A University of Queensland spokeswoman said one-on-one tutoring was available for those who were not successful on their first attempt.

“This results in an almost 100 per cent success rate for those sitting the LANTITE for a second time,” she said.