In an Australian first, schools have started using a new tertiary training model that allows prospective teachers to skip attending a university, and instead give them a “hands-on” in-classroom experience as paid employees.
The model includes on-site lectures, 1-2 days a week as well as being paid as assistant teachers throughout the duration of their four-year course, meaning students completely bypass a university campus.
Nineteen teaching students are the first to try the new method in Australia, grouped across six NSW schools, however, universities are urging caution, noting a similar model of training has not been successful in the United Kingdom.