Concern over number of would-be teachers who fail basic numeracy and literacy tests

There are calls for low-performing teaching students to be weeded out of degrees earlier, with the fail rate of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) almost doubling in the past five years.

The test examines their basic numeracy and literacy skills.

3AW Breakfast’s resident education expert, Pitsa Binnion, said moving those tests to earlier in the course, rather than at the end, was a step in the right direction.

She said it was good to see the problem being paid attention to.

“People are recognising that academic standards matter and it’s not just about babysitting young people in schools,” she said.

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