NSW offers free training for teachers retraining in maths

All teachers will be offered the chance to retrain as maths teachers for free as the NSW government battles a critical shortage.

All teachers will be offered the chance to retrain as maths teachers for free as the NSW government battles a critical shortage.

The pilot program of fast-tracked mathematics retraining will target schools in regional, rural and remote areas, with teachers from those areas to be part of the first intake early next year.

Such is the scarcity of qualified maths teachers that many schools are having classes taught by teachers from other disciplines with little or no maths background.

Education Department figures show 22 per cent of maths hours were taught by teachers from other fields last year, with the proportion higher in the bush.

Under the existing regime, becoming a qualified maths teacher requires a major or minor in pure or applied mathematics in a bachelor or postgraduate qualification, which can take two years or more to obtain.

Maths teacher and YouTube star Eddie Woo explains mathematical patterns found in nature and our human DNA. Picture: Mark Brake

The retraining program will enable teachers to retrain as maths educators via an accelerated master, graduate diploma or graduate certificate course with the government to cover the fees.

Should the pilot prove successful, the program will involve an intake of 40 teachers per year.

Among the options will include teachers being able to complete their studies online, out of school hours and during school holidays.

Award nominated maths teacher James Milne. Picture: Luke Bowden

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the program was about reducing barriers, with existing learning requirements making it difficult for teachers working full-time to retrain.

“The government is making it easier for our teachers in the country to retrain and keep that

valuable expertise in their local schools,” she said.

“Key to faster retraining is recognising teacher’s existing experience so they can retrain as

quickly as possible.”

Should the pilot prove successful, the program will involve an intake of 40 teachers per year.

The program is part of the $125 million teacher supply strategy, with $750,000 in grants being made available to universities to develop and pilot the maths courses.

North Epping Public School teacher Keith Barnett, pictured with students Imogen and Sophie, went on a study trip to learn better ways of teaching maths. Picture: AAP

Launched five months ago, the 10-year strategy includes attracting teachers from overseas, with the first recruits from 150 applications in the final stages of assessment expected to head to the classroom by the end of the year.

Another 50 participants in the mid-career transition to teaching program will be in schools in the second half of the year, with another 25 in 2023.

The FASTstream school leadership program has 50 participants, with another 50 to join them next year.

The new program comes amid escalating tensions between the government and the NSW Teachers Federation, which blames salaries and conditions along with years of inaction for the shortages.

In 2015, a department workforce supply and demand report warned of the decreasing supply of mathematics teachers with “any increase in retirement rates” above current projected levels and to a lesser extent an increase in resignation rates “would have a substantial negative impact on the total net supply of mathematics teachers”.