The government wants to increase the number of places on teacher education programmes to counteract the current shortage of teachers. But the investment risks being an empty exercise, according to the Faculties of Humanities and Theology as well as the Student Union for Science Students in Lund.
The government wants to invest in more places on teacher education programmes. In total, the increase would amount to 1,800 new places each year until 2019.
“During this legislative period, the government will work intensively to raise the standard of teacher education programmes and improve the status of teachers”, says Helene Hellmark Knutsson, the Minister of Higher Education and Research, in a speech.
It is now, in April, that the Spring Fiscal Policy Bill is presented, which tells us how many new places Lund University will receive.
Photo: Private.
But Filippa Wieselgren, Chairman of the Faculties of Humanities and Theology, is not entirely convinced that an increase of places on the teacher education programmes will solve the teacher-shortage.
“Overall it’s always fun to be allotted more places, but it’s problematic to distribute new places that are tied to a certain subject”, says Filippa Weiselgren.
Photo: Jens Hunt.
Above all, it is the teacher education programmes with focus on the natural sciences that have a very low number of applicants, according to Statistics Sweden and the Swedish Higher Education Authority.
Jesper Sjöström Strobel, Chairman of the Student Union for Science Students in Lund, thinks that being a teacher needs to become more attractive.
“The easiest way to raise the status of teaching as a profession is to raise the salaries. Teachers today are severely underpaid”, says Jesper Sjöström Strobel, Chairman of the Student Union for Science Students in Lund.
Quality assurance of teacher education programmes
This investment also aims to strengthen the teacher education programmes, with the help of certain resources. The goal is that every student studying to become a teacher will get a high-quality education, although the government has not given any details as to how yet.
Different programmes get different amounts of money for every full-time student, and according to Filippa Weiselgren this is a problem because the price tag on teacher students is too low and has been for a long time.
“The places on the programmes are underfunded and the money offered for each full-time student isn’t adjusted to fit today’s education”, continues Filippa Weiselgren.
Do you think there will be students who want those places?
“Yes, it’s possible. But I don’t think the government will get the effect they are hoping for”, says Filippa Weiselgren.
“No, I doubt it. So far we have never seen all places filled”, says Jesper Sjöström Strobel.
The investment is a part of the government’s promise, regarding the lower level of compulsory school, about how students should get the help they need early in order to meet the schools’ educational targets. The goal is to, through different measures, increase the time that teachers get with students.
Text: Camilla Göth
Translation: Emily Eriksson
