Dio Wang (WA, Palmer United Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 984 standing in my name for today, relating to the literacy and numeracy benchmark standards for teaching graduates.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that more than 90 per cent of teaching students met benchmark literacy and numeracy standards in an exam trialled by the Federal Government to ensure universities are preparing teachers to the highest possible standard; and

(b) calls on the Government, through its focus on research and innovation, to:

(i) keep its sights on teaching quality recognising that today's teachers are incubating the next generation of Australian researchers and innovators, and

(ii) ensure universities are accountable for all graduates meeting national professional standards for teachers.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Dio Wang (WA, Palmer United Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I always had the highest respect for our teachers because teachers are engineers. Teachers are builders of the foundation of our country's future prosperity. Teaching quality directly determines the quality of education our kids receive. This is why the findings from the literacy and numeracy exam trialled by the federal government are alarming. I welcome the fact that the government is embracing research and innovation, and I urge the government to look into how our teaching quality can be improved as well as how our teaching can be innovative not only in what we teach but also in how we teach.

Question agreed to.