Academy Insights: Community Perceptions of Education and the Teaching Profession in Victoria

Background

In late 2023, the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership (the Academy) commissioned research to explore the perceptions of the Victorian public towards Victorian primary and secondary school education, teachers and school leaders, and of the teaching profession. 

A cohort of 900 parents, guardians and carers of primary and secondary school-aged children were engaged through a survey and a series of focus groups. This paper unpacks the key findings on the perceptions around education and teaching across Victoria.

Areas for improving public perceptions, and strategies to enhance the support for Victorian teachers, were identified.

Perceptions of Education 

• Overall positive perceptions:
  • The high quality of teachers, the range of subjects offered, the availability of facilities and resources, a sense of safety in schools, and education overall are rated as excellent, very good, or good by at least six in 10 of those consulted.
• Respect for the teaching profession:
  • Over half the research participants agree that teaching is a respected profession, but there are also concerns about teacher shortages, low salaries, and challenging work environments.
• Parental priorities:
  • Parents in the sample report that key priorities for a child's education include a well-rounded education (44%), numeracy and literacy skills (38%), and practical life skills (28%).
  • Parents of primary-school aged students further emphasise the importance of self-confidence of their child/children (28%) and their child being supported to develop skills to make friends and get along (26%). Problem-solving ability is also important for this group (26%).
  • Parents of secondary-school aged students also place importance on developing a readiness for lifelong learning (24%), problem-solving ability (23%), resilience (23%) and confidence (23%). 12% of secondary school parents’ report that their child obtaining a high ATAR is a priority, while this was only true for 7% parents of primary-school aged students.
• Need for improvement:
  • Despite positive perceptions overall, those consulted identified areas for improvement, including addressing challenges in the teaching profession, enhancing the profile of educators, and ensuring that teachers and school leaders are respected and valued.
     

Perceptions of Teaching

• Teacher quality:
  • Two-thirds of the participants view primary school teachers as excellent, very good, or good and just slightly fewer rate secondary school teachers at the same level.
  • Current school parents hold more positive views of the teaching profession than those who are not parents.
  • Perceptions held by those in regional areas are less positive overall than perceptions held by those in metropolitan areas.
• Important qualities of teachers:
  • 43% of those consulted rank educators having a passion for teaching as a key quality, believing passion fosters student engagement and eagerness to learn.
  • Other significant qualities sought in teachers include being highly knowledgeable and skilled (38%), demonstrating care and compassion for students (35%), and having training in effective teaching practices (28%).
• Important attributes of teachers:
  • Most of those consulted perceive teachers as hardworking and dedicated, but not always appreciated by society.
• Influence of media on perceptions:
  • Negative media coverage influences public opinion about teachers and the profession. Research participants identified media reporting on issues such as teacher shortages, low salaries, and declines in education standards as having played a part in their perceptions of teachers.
• Important qualities of school leaders:
  • Principals are viewed as the main leaders responsible for the overall management of the school, cultivating a leadership culture, and setting a positive tone.
  • Respondents valued qualities of school leaders including strong relationship-building skills, and effective leadership.
• Respect and recognition:
  • 74% of those consulted agree that teachers are among the most important adults in a child's life, yet only 32% believe they are always respected and valued by parents.
  • Acknowledging and celebrating teacher contributions, managing parental expectations, and increasing remuneration were suggested as ways to raise the profile of educators.
• Perceptions of teaching as a career:
  • One in five consulted disagree that teaching is a good career choice, due to concerns about shortages of high-quality teachers, low salaries, excessive workloads, and challenging environments.
     

Strategies to Improve Perceptions of Education and the Teaching Profession

Research participants identified several potential activities to improve public and parent perceptions of teachers, school leaders and the teaching profession. These include the following:

• Enhance perceptions of teacher quality including by emphasising the passion, skills, and compassion of teachers to help shape positive overall perceptions of education.
• Promote the essential role and positive impact of teachers in shaping students' futures.
• Recognise teachers as among the most important adults in a child's life and promote their contributions to society.
• Counter misconceptions and highlight the positive aspects of teaching and education leadership roles.
• Raise awareness of efforts to improve teaching quality and enhance student outcomes, and of the role of institutions like the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership.
• Establish campaigns in regional areas to improve perceptions of education and the value of the teaching profession.

The Academy encourages those working in education and professional learning to consider these strategies, as we all work to raise the status of the profession and support educators.

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