Ed Council changes mean ECTs now able to sit LANTITE test earlier

Freya Lucas

Dec 17, 2020

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Early childhood teachers (ECTs) will have the option of sitting their compulsory literacy and numeracy test, LANTITE, before they begin their degree, to avoid unnecessary course costs and wasted time.

The decision was reached at the latest Education Council meeting, held earlier this week. From 2023 initial teacher education students will have the option to sit the LANTITE test before they begin their degree.

LANTITE was introduced in 2011 to ensure that graduate teachers had literacy and numeracy skills in the top 30 per cent of the adult population, and has attracted some controversy when graduates reach the end of their degree and are unable to pass the test at the required level, leaving them unable to register as a teacher in some states.

"Giving students the option to sit the test before they start their degree will save time and money," Federal Minister for Education Mr Tehan said.

"The sooner a student takes the test the earlier they can get support or make alternative arrangements,” he added.

"If someone doesn’t pass the test, this doesn’t mean they can’t enrol in a teaching degree, but it does make them aware that they need to work on their literacy and numeracy skills."

At the Education Council meeting all education ministers reiterated their support for national standardised testing in Australia and agreed that ACARA would provide advice in 2021 to improve the NAPLAN writing assessment and national standardised assessment.

For further information about LANTITE testing, please see here.

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