– I think one has to be honest and ask the question: Was it right to go for five-year integrated education? That’s what the vice-chancellor at Nord University, Levi Gårdseth-Nesbakk, says after the number of applicants from Samordna admissions showed a crisis for teacher education. The number of applications has actually decreased by 21.8 per cent. The decline affects both primary school teacher and lecturer training. The vice-chancellor in the North believes that the five-year integrated education should be considered. – Maybe it could have been a three plus two model, or similar type of alternative thoughts to make it a little less scary to have to go into five years in one fell swoop, says Gårdseth-Nesbakk. Pro-rector at Nord University Levi Gårseth-Nesbakk is disappointed that the number of applicants for teacher education is falling. Photo: Bente H. Johansen / news At Nord University, the numbers are dramatic. There are only 29 applicants who have primary school education as their first choice. They have room for 55. – We are disappointed that teacher training is declining. It has been like this for a number of years and it continues like this, with us just like nationally. – They have had their own project to recruit for these courses. Doesn’t it work? – I don’t think we should say that it doesn’t work, but it doesn’t produce the effects we want. Will not rule out a change Storting representative and member of the education and research committee, Maren Grøthe (Sp) will not rule out a change, but believes that the five-year education will remain. – Our approach is that we must do what we can to improve the education that has now been created. Number of applicants to teacher training at Nord University Only half the number of first-choice applicants in Bodø in relation to study places. That is before you have looked at who is qualified and actually say yes. Nesna: (everything is defined as online study) 1–7 primary school teachers 22 first-choice applicants – 30 places 5–10 primary school teachers 34 first-choice applicants – 34 places Kindergarten teachers 42 first-choice applicants – 30 places 98 first-choice applicants to 95 places. In other words, as many applicants as there are places. Bodø: (school-based, full-time) 1–7 primary school teachers 13 first-choice applicants – 25 places 5–10 primary school teachers 16 first-choice applicants – 30 places Kindergarten teachers 16 first-choice applicants – 30 places 45 first-choice applicants to 85 places. So approx. half of the capacity. Online based in Bodø: 1–7 primary school teachers 21 first-choice applicants – 30 places She believes that high standards must still be set for being a teacher, but that perhaps they should look at different models. – I think it is worth considering her, because now all efforts must be brought together to recruit more people and for us to give a boost to teacher education. Maren Grøthe (Sp) says the most important thing is to start the discussion about what is needed to recruit more teachers. Photo: news And the Ministry of Knowledge will now do that, according to State Secretary Oddmund Løkensgard Hoel (Sp). Last week they sent a proposal for changes to the framework plans for teacher education for consultation. It is not a three plus two year model that they have proposed, but he says the proposal contains changes that will make the education and the practical part more flexible. – And should, for example, make it easier to include other subjects in the education. Precisely to meet some of the criticism that the proposal was rooted in. That the education may have been perceived as a little too rigid, says Hoel. He says that the organization of the education may be one of the factors for the low number of applicants, but he also believes there are other reasons that lie outside the education. – We must stand together to speak up the teaching profession. It is important to talk about the school and how rewarding it is to work with children in the school. The lift in status and reputation that I think can really help us going forward. – The wrong way to go On the other hand, Margret Hagerup in Høgre is clear that the education should neither be shortened nor changed. She is also a parliamentary representative and sits on the education and research committee. – Lowering the requirements for teacher training is the wrong way to go in order to recruit more people. We see that this integrated master’s degree has both raised the teachers’ competence, status and salary. We also saw that there was an increase in the number of searches until 2019, says Hagerup. Margret Hagerup (H) understands that there is concern about the low number of applicants, but she believes that other measures should be considered. Photo: Kjersti Hetland / news It was Høgre that introduced the five-year teacher training in 2014. Hagerup says the background for introducing a five-year master’s degree was, among other things, that the teachers should be up-to-date on research and be able to try out new teaching methods in the classroom. – We believe that this leads to the pupils meeting good teachers in the classroom. Must raise the reputation Leader of the education association in Nordland Anita Karlsen also believes that it is a bad idea to cut education to a three-year bachelor’s degree. – I think it is the wrong way. Karlsen says there are high demands on the teachers when it comes to competence in methodology, tactics and pedagogy. There is also a requirement to know school history and drive school development. – I can’t see you having time for that, in addition to the subject, in just three years. She believes the solution to the recruitment problem is to raise the reputation of the teachers, give them time to do the job and increase their pay. – There are many factors, says Karlsen.
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Advocating for a review of five-year teacher training – news Nordland
