Twice as many teaching graduates failing compulsory test than in 2016

Almost 1500 teaching graduates failed a maths and English test, meaning they did not have year-nine standard skills. Test yourself here.

Teachers have up to five chances to pass the controversial LANTITE test.

Twice as many teaching graduates from across Australia are failing a compulsory maths and English skills test compared to six years ago, with experts warning standards continue to fall.

Teachers have up to five chances to pass the controversial LANTITE test, but 1483 graduates in 2021 did not have year nine-standard skills and failed.

This is up from 627 graduates who failed in 2016.

After completing a three-year teaching degree, seven per cent of graduates in 2021 failed the basic skills test – up from five per cent in 2016.

This includes 7.1 per cent of 20,891 graduates in the literacy test and 7 per cent of 20,720 graduates in the numeracy test, new government data shows.

Educational insiders predict the figures for 2022 could be even worse.

This means they cannot teach in an Australian school and are not in the top one third of adults.

The numeracy test requires them to do basic maths such as interpreting an infograph, reading food labels and calculating basic pay rates. The literacy component tests them on things such as using an apostrophe, spelling words such as disappointment and using the word “integrate” in a sentence.

The LANTITE test, which stands for Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education, was introduced in 2016 amid concerns about the low standard of beginner teachers, Such standards continue to be under scrutiny.

While the minimum ATAR for a teaching degree is 70, selection scores can be as low as 43 for diploma courses.

Central Queensland University senior lecturer Robert Vandenberg said there was very little transparency and no breakdown by gender, race or socio-economic status in LANTITE results.

“When students fail, all they get is a line and a bubble telling them how they did,” he said.

“2022 is likely to be the worst year yet because students have less content because of Covid.”

Dr Vandenberg said some students changed their career path after failing the test even once, deciding they don’t want to use their degree to teach in schools.

“But everyone who works with us to pass, does so,” he said.

Murdoch University research shows some students report having panic attacks, blacking out during the test and even have suicidal ideation after sitting the test.

Australian Catholic University Education Dean Professor Mary Ryan said LANTITE is an important measure of the classroom readiness of graduate teachers.

“It is our expectation that students should pass the test in their first year and we assist them to do so with a range of resources to help their preparation,” she said.

The LANTITE is administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research and costs nearly $200 each time it is taken.

A Department of Education spokesman said 93 per cent of students pass the LANTITE test at first attempt.

“Comparing rates between different years is discouraged as each cohort is unique,” he said.

“The Teacher Education Expert Panel, led by Professor Mark Scott, will make recommendations on how to strengthen initial teacher education programs to deliver effective classroom-ready graduates.”

Alan Tudge, Opposition spokesman for Education, said it was “astounding that a university would pass a person through three years of university, when they cannot pass a basic literacy and numeracy test.”

“The test is important but should be done earlier in the course so that students won’t have wasted potentially four years of study,” he said.

In August, Education Ministers agreed to work on a plan to ensure all first year students undergo initial assessment of their literacy and numeracy skills to ensure they get help if they need it.