Assessment of Early Childhood ITE programs
The ITEC sought a review of current advice on the assessment of early childhood initial teacher education programs that provide a Birth to 8 years focus. The central issue is how a Birth to 8 years early childhood program satisfies the Institute’s requirements and how it may differ from a Birth-12 years program. The ITEC sought further advice on this matter at its February 2009 meeting and pending this advice recommended that Birth to 8 years early childhood programs currently being assessed be considered for approval for a maximum period of three years.
Initial teacher education program approval
The ITEC
recommended approval of seven initial teacher education programs.
Implications of non-approval of programs
The ITEC discussed issues relating to initial teacher education programs that cease to
be approved after 31 December 2008 where the approval has not been resolved.
This includes instances where an extension of current approval was sought due to extenuating circumstances (eg TEI restructuring); where the assessment and approval of a new/revised program had not been completed; where a TEI sought to defer the commencement of a new/revised program as it was unable to address the Panel Assessment Advice in the time available; and where a TEI had not submitted for approval a new/revised program that was commencing in 2009.
The ITEC approved a proposal for seeking Ministerial approval for 1 year, and the conditions for this, in relation to the above circumstances.