COVID-19 and final year preservice teachers
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 125 No 6, 14 August 2020, page no.19
The impact of COVID-19 has understandably resulted in disruption for preservice teachers hoping to complete practicums. We at the QTU, along with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT), are very aware of the impact this has had on pre-service teachers, particularly those scheduled to complete their final practicums in 2020.
Throughout the negotiations with relevant stakeholders regarding this issue, the QTU has been advocating for a solution that would provide pre-service teachers with a range of alternative ways to meet practicum requirements, and ultimately allow final year students to graduate as scheduled.
The QCT Board has agreed to a range of options to allow flexibility in how preservice teachers can demonstrate the standards required of a Queensland graduate. These measures are only in place for preservice teachers completing programs impacted by COVID-19 who are due to complete their final professional experience in 2020. The QCT Board developed a set of principles to ensure that initial teacher education programs maintain graduate quality and that modifications do not impact on community confidence in teacher preparation.
QTU student members can be confident that any program changes resulting from COVID-19 approved by the QCT Board and Professional Standards Committee will not have an impact on a Queensland graduates’ eligibility to apply for registration in Queensland.
The QTU will continue to liaise with stakeholders to explore models of future support that will be available to 2020 graduates.