Industry Insights: 50% of university students who study teaching never make it into the classroom.

According to the Australian Minister for Education, Jason Clare, approximately 50% of Australia university students who undertake a Teaching or Education course do not complete their studies.

University students quickly learn through their work placements that the job does not align with their expectations. They have expressed that the workload is overwhelming, and that the daily challenges of managing a classroom are a jarring revelation.

Research conducted by Associate Professor Rachel Wilson from the Sydney School of Education & Social Work at the University of Sydney, claims that the recruitment process and degradation of the required ATAR scores required, are to blame.

Wilson’s studies showed that when a lower ATAR score is required for a teaching course (E.g. ATAR 30-50) there are approximately 3,000 entrants, 58% of which complete their studies. Whereas, when the entry level is higher (ATAR 91-100) there are approximately 450 entrants, with a completion rate of 69%.

“It seems reasonable to question whether the growth in initial teacher education is driven by a quest for enrolment numbers; including via pathways that have not been verified as legitimate foundations for the deeply challenging intellectual work of teaching…”

Associate Professor Rachel Wilson – Sydney School of Education & Social Work, University of Sydney

These findings are a stark contrast to the firsthand experiences of student teachers who have worked tirelessly to get through their courses, and when looked at subjectively, diminishes the flaws in the education system that student teachers are struggling to join.

When we reached out to our community of teachers, their concerns were mainly about the heightened stress caused by student behaviour and the inability to balance work and life.

One qualified teacher, Jess, said “I finished my degree, but my first term teaching was awful. [I’m] reconsidering my future in the teaching industry.”

Another graduate explained that she also finished her degree and was working as a graduate, but recently quit due to the stress and [lack of] work/life balance.

Others expressed that they were working as relief teachers because they were too afraid to go into part-time or full-time positions, knowing that the workload will be unmanageable.

Wilson stated in her research that “this situation poses a serious threat, with spiralling and accelerating dynamics negatively impacting on the esteem of the teaching profession…”

What are your thoughts on this?

The Createl Team are here to help teachers to flourish in and out of the classroom, and so we would love to know your thoughts on this topic.

Comment your experiences below. We want to better understand how we can help you to plan, inspire, and flourish.