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Student teachers running VCE classes amid Victorian school staffing crisis

A record number of education students are teaching in Victorian schools — including Year 12 classes — amid a staffing crisis, meaning teachers may be just a little older than their students.

A record number of education students have been brought forward to teach in Victorian schools, including VCE classes.
A record number of education students have been brought forward to teach in Victorian schools, including VCE classes.

The Victorian teaching workforce is in crisis, with a record number of education students brought forward to teach in schools, including VCE classes.

Students teaching year 12s may be only a few years older than the classroom pupils they are educating.

The latest workforce data shows that in 2023 there were 1791 students studying teaching who were granted permission to work in schools by the education regulator, the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). This is three times more than ten years ago and nearly 500 more than in 2022.

The Department of Education report reveals that for the first time, ten graduates are teaching VCE classes.

Although workforce pressures have eased a little since Covid, there are now around 35,000 registered teachers who are not employed as educators, and only 101,000 registered teachers working.

A review into teacher education found that even teachers who had graduated felt underprepared for the classroom in key areas.
A review into teacher education found that even teachers who had graduated felt underprepared for the classroom in key areas.

There are also 1000 job vacancies for teachers currently being advertised.

Demand for teachers is expected to outpace supply every year from now until 2029, when a shortage of 3600 high school educators is forecasted.

Researchers have dubbed student teachers working in schools as “unqualified” and prone to burnout.

A 2022 review into teacher education also found that even teachers who had graduated felt underprepared for the classroom in key areas, including student discipline.

A VIT spokesman said “permission to teach” (PTT) educators serve as “a temporary, limited authority to teach designed to fill short term workforce shortages, and make up approximately two per cent of all teachers on the VIT”.

“In many cases, PTT is granted for less than six months, and is used to bridge the gap from when a pre-service teacher has completed their studies and is waiting for formal confirmation of graduation.”

“We work closely with our universities and schools to ensure that these pre-service teachers have the support they need,” the VIT spokesman said.

Opposition education spokeswoman Jess Wilson said: “Labor’s teacher shortage crisis continues to deny students the world-class education they deserve.

“Relying on special approvals to allow pre-service teachers, who are still learning themselves, to teach VCE classes demonstrates just how dire this crisis has become under the Allan Labor Government,” she said.

“With more than one-in-four registered teachers not currently working, more must be done to address this trend and better understand why so many skilled teachers are turning away from the profession.

“Labor cannot manage money, cannot manage our teacher workforce and Victorian students are paying the price.”

Originally published as Student teachers running VCE classes amid Victorian school staffing crisis

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/victoria/student-teachers-running-vce-classes-amid-victorian-school-staffing-crisis/news-story/91d22de94712060756942fff74fc291b