ATAR 2019: Universities accused of bypassing teaching entry requirements
Universities in NSW have been accused of allowing students to bypass entry requirements for teaching degrees which were brought in by the state’s education minister to boost teacher quality.
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Students who received dismal tertiary entry rankings have been admitted into teaching degrees — infuriating the state’s education minister who has blasted universities for bypassing entry requirements designed to boost teacher quality.
Analysis of new data reveals that HSC students that scored an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank around 50 will enter a raft of universities next year to become future teachers.
This comes despite a crackdown by the state government on low-performing HSC and university students in a bid to lift the standards of future teachers.
In NSW, high school graduates must score at least 80 per cent in three subjects, including English, to undertake a teaching degree.
But with universities allowing students with ATARs of around 50 into courses next year, Education Minister Sarah Mitchell believes some tertiary bosses are flouting the rules.
Australian Catholic University admitted people into its Bachelor of Teaching designed for future high school English teachers with ATARs as low as 49.65, according to the University Admissions Centre data released on Monday.
Once adjustment factors like bonus points for special consideration were added on, the lowest ATAR for the course was 60.55.
ATARs are scored out of 99.95.
The same university admitted someone with a raw ATAR of 50.55 to study a Bachelor of Primary Education, and someone to Bachelor of Teaching in secondary maths of 52.75.
These scores were also adjusted up with bonus points.
The University of Canberra admitted students with an ATAR as low as 48.30 for their Bachelor of Primary Education course.
The University of Newcastle admitted students with ATARs of 53.45 into its Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths secondary teaching program.
Ms Mitchell said NSW has the “highest teacher entry requirements in Australia”.
“It is extremely disappointing that some universities continue to try and bypass these entry requirements,” she said.
“It is clear that not all universities are making it a priority to develop the very best teachers,”
The state government has introduced “teacher success profiles” meaning any university graduate wanting a job in a state school must have a credit average or higher in their degree, pass psychometric tests, undertake a one-on-one behavioural interview and have undertaken every practicum placement assessed.
Experts said the ATAR data shows Australia has failed to stem the glut of low achieving students becoming teachers, which is fuelling Australia’s downward spiral in international education rankings.
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Centre for Independent Studies education researcher Glenn Fahey said students who received an ATAR around 50 were “highly likely (to have) failed to achieve highly at school”.
He said the quality of teachers was directly correlated with student outcomes.
“Continuing to have a system that is unwilling to address this lack of quality in teaching is a huge disservice to generations of students,” he said.
Students must pass a literacy and numeracy test under federal government measurers introduced in 2017.
Federal opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said students were being told they shouldn’t “waste” a high ATAR on a teaching degree.
“Universities need to significantly raise their standards for entry into teaching degrees,” she said.
Australian Catholic University Executive Dean of Education Professor Elizabeth Labone said they met all the requirements of the NSW Education Standards Authority.
“Students in all teaching disciplines must also pass academic and non-academic capabilities criteria to continue and complete their degree,” she said.
University of Canberra Acting Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Geoff Crisp said ATAR scores were only one part of entry to university with some students admitted with an ATAR of 90 or above.
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan said only 17 per cent of prospective teachers entered university based on their ATAR.
** Students are given an ATAR but they may be given extra points because of special equity considerations if they come from a disadvantaged background or if they did well in certain subjects that are relevant to the degree for which they have applied.
The lowest selection rank which include these adjustments for each course are published on UAC’s website. ATAR profiles relate to Year 12 applicants only.