The body which represents the 39 Australian universities offering teaching degrees has rejected Labor's call for a marked increase in the ATAR entry levels of would-be teachers, saying there is no evidence that such a "quick fix" would work.

The president of the Australian Council of Deans of Education, Professor Tania Aspland, called on Labor to avoid confrontation with universities over the issue, saying: "I don't think vice-chancellors prefer to work like that".

Deputy Federal Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek at a press conference in Rosberry on Sunday. Credit:James Alcock

"Our brief is always to go to politicians, have the discussion and try and reach a consensus because we all actually want the same outcome" she told the Herald yesterday.

Labor's shadow minister for Education Tanya Plibersek has threatened to cap the numbers of students universities can recruit into teaching degrees unless entry standards are raised so that trainee teachers are drawn from the top 30 per cent or so of high school graduates. This would equate to an ATAR cut-off of around 80 for trainee teachers.