Solutions to Solve the STEM Teacher Shortage

One weekend a month.

Two weeks a year.

For many years, this phrase was a powerful recruitment tool for the Australian Defence Force. The notion of a well-trained reservist force available to serve the needs of Australia was proposed in an entirely different context at the recent HunterWiSE ‘ideas collider’ workshop, with one team asking the question: are ‘teacher reservists’ the answer to the STEM teacher shortage in Australia?

Hosted in collaboration with I2N, ‘Solving the STEM Teacher Shortage’ was an opportunity for current and prospective teachers, as well as people with an interest in the future of STEM education, to come together to share ideas and discuss a pressing issue.

The teacher shortage issue is widespread, affecting many countries including the UK, US, as well as Australia. Factors contributing to teacher shortages include increasing teacher attrition rates, declining enrolments in Initial Teacher Education, and an ageing teacher population. An increase in the starting salary for teachers helped reduce the vacancy rate, but as of May 2024 around 1,000 vacancies remain in public schools across regional NSW.¹

Leading ‘Solving the STEM Teacher Shortage’, event facilitator Tayla Furey proposed a problem statement: what innovative approaches can we develop to attract, retain and support STEM teachers, particularly in underserved and regional areas, while addressing the challenges of an ageing teacher population and high attrition rates?

Over a 90-minute session, five teams proposed, refined, and evaluated innovative solutions to address critical challenges in STEM education. The role of industry in supporting STEM education initiatives featured throughout, and the value of innovation was a recurring theme. One teacher remarked, “when teachers really get to innovate, that’s what makes our job worth doing.”

From an initial 160 potential solutions to the STEM teacher shortage, five actions emerged that reflected the diverse perspectives and years of experience in the room:

• Industry-based sabbatical for teachers to bring ideas back into the classroom and help keep teachers engaged, satisfied and motivated.
• Clear and consistent STEM education standards and pathways across all schools, supported by a cooperative network of educators, shared resources, and sustained funding to ensure access and value for all students.
• Redistribution of funding to where it’s needed most – including wiping teachers’ HECS debts.
• More opportunities for collaboration between teachers and industry, with industry providing funding for professional development in specialist areas.

The most popular proposal with the attendees was the Australian Teaching Force Academy, modeled after the Australian Defence Force. Offering free education degrees, a guaranteed job and a required period of ‘service' in the classroom, this proposal aims to elevate teaching to the same level of esteem as Defence careers. A ‘Teacher Reservists’ program would allow industry professionals to undergo compacted training to help address the teacher shortage, emphasising the essential role of teachers in the community and forming a bridge between industry and education.

Facilitator Tayla Furey, a former teacher now working at the intersection of education and entrepreneurship, said, “These events bring together a community ready to make a difference. The more conversations that happen, the more people who get involved, means that when change is initiated the solutions are clear, and the drive to implement them is strong."

Teaching needs its own 'CSI' moment - a shift in community perception that elevates the value and appeal of teaching careers that drives an increase in enrolments. The proposed solutions highlight the power of collaboration and the need for innovative approaches to improve STEM education and the experiences of both teachers and students. If engagement in ‘Solving the STEM Teacher Shortage’ is an indicator, there is a wealth of enthusiasm and commitment needed to drive lasting change.

¹ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-16/rural-school-teacher-shortage-nsw-merriwa/103831162

HunterWiSE is  an initiative to support the participation of women and girls in STEM. HunterWiSE initiatives are made possible through the generous financial and in-kind support received from the University of Newcastle and industry partners.