Initial teacher educators need a seat at national meeting on staff shortages

Expert: Professor Susan Ledger said there needed to be more support for teachers when starting work, including through co-teaching opportunities and professional learning and reflection.

UNIVERSITIES that provide initial teacher education (ITE) should have been invited to the first face-to-face meeting in a year of federal and state education ministers, where they will discuss workforce shortages.

NSW Council of Deans of Education and University of Newcastle Head of the School of Education Professor Susan Ledger said initial teacher educators deserved a seat at the meeting's roundtable discussion, which will include principals, teachers and other education experts.