CDU offers more teaching programs in 2014

Charles Darwin University will offer three new programs in teacher education this year, providing more opportunities to prepare graduates and address current and predicted teacher shortages in the Northern Territory.

The new four-year undergraduate secondary teaching degrees will allow students to undertake study in the specialist discipline areas of English, information technology and mathematics.

CDU School of Education head Professor Peter Kell said the new courses responded to national priorities announced by the Federal Government promoting the teaching of Asian languages and mathematics.

“The programs have been designed to meet the requirements of the newly developed Australian high school curriculum and will enable students to work in all states in Australia,” Professor Kell said.

“The programs will prepare students for employment in high schools and were designed to enable students to have teaching specialisations in two subject areas rather than one, as previously offered.”

Professor Kell said the programs would provide good employment opportunities for graduates and responded to areas where there were existing and predicted teacher shortages in the Northern Territory.

“Teacher shortages are predicted, with a large proportion of the current NT teaching workforce over 50 years old and set to take options to retire from 2015 onwards,” he said.

“These programs will not only provide opportunities for students to start careers in secondary education but will help fill workforce gaps.”

Professor Kell said the new programs would strengthen the portfolio of secondary teacher education programs currently on offer at CDU, which include physical education and health science, and music and visual arts.

The programs are accredited with the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership and are compliant with the newly developed Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.