Entry requirements for primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes

The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand will be consulting with relevant stakeholders on proposed changes to the entry requirements for Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes for primary teaching. Changes would be effective with approved transitional arrangements from 2025.

The Teaching Council wants to raise the level of achievement in mathematics for entry into primary ITE programmes. A strong foundation in mathematics is crucial to every primary school students’ educational success and the Teaching Council shares the concern that too many new primary teachers are not confident to teach this important area of the curriculum.

ITE providers are best placed to prepare student teachers and give them a strong grounding in the content and teaching practices of Mathematics and Pāngarau curricula areas. But we also need a shared threshold of numeracy and mathematical understanding.

Therefore, the Teaching Council is proposing that candidates wanting to enter primary teacher training, will need to meet a minimum of 14 mathematics credits at NCEA Level 2 (or equivalent) to demonstrate their secondary school achievement in mathematics.

This change will be valuable in sending a strong signal that mathematical competence is an important aspect of primary teaching. It is also intended to encourage school students considering a career in primary teaching to continue with their study of mathematics.

A teaching profession that is diverse is critical to the success for all learners. While we transition, the Teaching Council recognises the need to create bridging pathways and transition approaches to grow maths capability and allow time for potential student teachers to prepare to meet this higher entry standard.

We don’t believe this level of attainment is too high or that Māori and Pasifika students cannot attain this. Candidates for initial teacher education must already achieve University Entrance, which requires attainment at NCEA Level 3 as well as Level 2. To a large extent, this is about asking prospective teachers to change the subjects they choose to focus on at secondary level.

Given current demographics and forecast volumes of primary school students, we are confident that the impact on the number of future primary teaching graduates from this proposed change will be manageable. The Teaching Council’s ITE and Induction Stakeholder Group has established a working group on entry requirements for primary ITE and CE Lesley Hoskin, has asked them for advice, as a matter of urgency, on elements of the design of this new requirement.

Design elements include bridging pathways and transition approaches and possible temporary provisions for 2025 for candidates to demonstrate their mathematical competence if they have finished school without the specified minimum levels of secondary school achievement in mathematics. These all recognise that secondary students undertaking NCEA Level 3 in 2024 will have already committed to their programme of study and may have limited opportunities to make changes to meet this new requirement.

Consideration will be given as to whether, and to what extent, these temporary provisions will continue into 2026. More permanent provision for candidates who leave school without minimum levels of secondary school achievement in mathematics to attain entry to primary ITE via bridging pathways will also be developed.

Please note - as we are now moving into a consultation phase, we will not be undertaking media interviews on this proposal at this time.

For more information:

Holly Scotson – Media
Phone: 021 191 8928
Email: media@teachingcouncil.nz