“Australia needs to embrace a national strategy for meeting the needs of students who are gifted that includes compulsory pre- and post-service teacher training in gifted education” says Dr Catherine Wormald. Dr Wormald is currently a lecturer at the University of Wollongong and a gifted education consultant.
Giftedness in any field can be found in students across all groups in society. This includes those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, students for whom English is their second language, indigenous and other cultural group. However, gifted programs in some schools do not reflect that diversity.
Dr Wormald added that research in Australia has clearly indicated significant benefits for gifted students being taught by teachers trained in gifted education.
Read more of the AAEGT’s Gifted Awareness Week’s press release about compulsory training in gifted education here
And read the infomration sheet on the need for teacher training to include compulsory training in gifted education here