Probe into Victorian universities’ teaching courses launched

The investigation will look at institutions who offer education degrees to students with admission scores as low as 17.

The Victorian Institute of Teaching probe will examine whether the ATAR data was appropriately adjusted for equity considerations.

An investigation has been launched into Victorian universities offering education degrees to students with low admission score following revelations students with ATARs as low as 17 can secure a place in an initial teaching course.

The state’s teaching regulator, the Victorian Institute of Teaching, yesterday announced the investigation into higher education institutions’ compliance with the state framework for students entering initial teacher education programs.

VIT said it was concerned the data recently released through Senate Estimates appeared “significantly different” from data the institutions provided as part of their Victorian Selection Framework compliance audit.

Victoria University admitted students with the lowest scores in Australia into an Initial Teaching Education course, according to the Herald Sun.

It reported one student with an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of just 17.9 out of a possible 99.95 secured a place in a pathway program to an initial teaching course.

The VIT probe will examine whether the ATAR data was appropriately adjusted for equity considerations and how pathways courses operate.

The Herald Sun reported Victoria University introduced the Bachelor of Education Studies degree this year which allows enrolled students to transfer to the Bachelor of Education in their second year.

The new degree has no minimum standard.

Teaching degrees in Victoria have a minimum ATAR of 65 which will rise to 70 next year.

“(The Victorian Institute of Teaching) is committed to ensuring that only initial teacher education programs that comply with the VSF continue to be accredited,” the institute said in a statement.

“Non-compliance with the obligations may jeopardise a higher education institution’s accreditation.”