Science & Technology Australia (STA) is calling for a nationally coordinated program to upskill teachers working outside their subject expertise, following Australia's worst recorded maths results.
Results released overnight from the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show Australia's long-term decline in mathematics continuing, while science improved slightly from 2022 but remained below earlier levels.
STA Chief Executive Officer Ryan Winn noted consistent declines in student performance across many OECD countries.
The report attributed this to digital distractions in the classroom, lower concentration spans and the lingering impact of the pandemic, among other factors.
"These challenges underscore the need to make specialist maths training for teachers a priority. Delivering targeted support to help our teachers should be squarely on the national reform agenda," Mr Winn said.
"Across Australia, teachers are stepping into maths classrooms to fill shortages, often without specialist qualifications in the subject. They deserve the opportunity to build that expertise to help our students succeed."
More than a third of secondary maths teachers are from other fields, with regional, remote and disadvantaged communities particularly affected.
"A student's postcode should never determine whether they have access to a teacher with specialist maths knowledge," Mr Winn said.
"Investing in the teachers already in our classrooms is a practical step governments can take now."
STA and Australia's mathematical sciences bodies have proposed a national strategy that would deliver:
- Supported university study leading to recognised specialist maths teaching qualifications.
- Funding to remove course-cost barriers and provide teachers with time away from the classroom to study.
- Consistent national workforce data linking teachers' qualifications with the subjects they teach, so we can target support to teachers and schools with the greatest need.
The proposal would coordinate Commonwealth, state and territory action to strengthen the existing teaching workforce.
Education Minister Jason Clare has pointed to early numeracy checks and reforms to the early years maths curriculum as part of the Government's response.
"Ensuring we get the foundations right matters. We also need to ensure students have expert teaching as they move into more demanding secondary maths," Mr Winn said.
"Maths opens doors to science, engineering and technology careers. When students lose confidence in maths, they can start closing doors to reach their full potential."
"The Australian Government has a concrete proposal before them. The next step is to fund it and give teachers the time and support to take part."
