What is it about?
It has been argued that there is a shortage of vocational education and training (VET) teachers, and that one reason for this is that VET teaching is not well paid compared with jobs in industry. This paper not only challenges the myth of a shortage but also debunks the claims about low pay, using data from other education sectors and more widely across the economy.
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Why is it important?
The removal of barriers and perceived barriers into the occupation of VET teaching is very important, to attract high-quality people from industry and from other sectors. The circulation of incorrect myths is counter-productive and can lead to poor policy. It is important that any changes to the VET system, introduced at stakeholders’ behest, should be examined for potential deleterious effects on the current and potential VET teaching workforce. The paper will contribute to public policy decisions, to training providers' recruitment strategies and to the status of the occupation.
Perspectives
I researched and wrote this paper because I was worried that public expressions of concern about a shortage of VET teachers would lead to a lowering of already low standards for entry. In my view the myths could only add to perceptions of low status in the job, thus potentially making it more difficult, not less difficult, to attract people to the occupation, and so I was pleased that the available data debunked the myths. I am already using the findings publicly and I hope readers will be able to use them too; many countries have similar issues and debates.
Erica Smith
Federation University Australia
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The narrative of a VET workforce shortage in Australia: reality, myth or opportunity?, Education + Training, September 2023, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/et-03-2023-0078.
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