More teachers with specialist maths and science degrees will have to be employed in Australian high schools if the federal government gets its way.
In a speech in Sydney on Monday, Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham will say it's unacceptable that secondary school students are taught science or maths subjects by people without specialist skills.
"States should be willing to make clear to universities where their employment priorities lie and create direct incentives," Senator Birmingham will say.
"If need be, federal funding powers over university places could be used to influence enrolment to secure the science teachers we need for the future."
The government is pointing to a recent report which highlighted a long-term decline in year 12 enrolments in science and challenging maths subjects.
Intermediate and advanced maths enrolment declined from 54 to 36 per cent between 1992 and 2012.
In 2013, around one in five general science teachers taking years seven to 10 classes had not completed at least one year of tertiary study in that area.
The government wants to see change in the education system within five to 10 years.
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