An event for Queensland school principals has heard that schools should be actively finding roles for teachers-in-training.

USQ Professor Stephen Winn told a summit of twenty school leaders that tertiary education students would be set on the path to become the best teacher they can be, as early as possible.

He says education students could be welcomed into schools for assistance roles alongside their studies, for the benefit of more real-world experience.

“In every profession, education is the key, not just at the start but throughout their careers,” Dr Winn said at the Principal’s Breakfast.

“Statistical data shows that a proportion of tertiary education students will not be lifelong educators in schools. However they probably will be educators in other domains,” he said.

“Similarly, many students who undertake nursing degrees might not be lifelong nurses in hospital environments but they might work in whole range of other health areas.

“Certainly many law students won’t end up practicing at the bar but probably will use their legal training to assist in organisations and departments.

“Many students undertaking a teacher education program at a university are working in different jobs to support their study, typically in the service industry.

“However there could be greater opportunities for these students to work in local schools as teacher aides so that they have a better understanding of how schools function and the roles of those who work in schools.

“Professional experience is a key element of teacher education training and additionally by actively being involved in schools many teachers in training would get a much deeper appreciation of the dynamics of schools.

“I hope schools would support that and continue to work with USQ to ensure the best possible teacher graduate.

“It is in a cooperative and collaborative approach between USQ and the local schools that we are able to ensure our teacher education graduates are the best prepared they can be.”

The breakfast meeting is aimed at bringing together education leaders to promote open discussions and build future initiatives based on local needs.

“USQ Fraser Coast’s new supported-mode engineering program which began early this year was a result of discussions from last year’s luncheon for local school principals,” he said.

“This year’s breakfast has generated ideas to assist numeracy issues by developing group mentoring between university and school students.

“The event was successful by all measures.”