Questions are being asked over the strength of the country's training of teachers.

A new ERO report has found a large number of graduates feel unprepared to take on what they're going to face in the classroom.

It said many of them feel they don't have enough practical experience, can't assess students properly and are not trained enough in some subjects.

The Chair of New Zealand Deans of Education John O'Neill told Mike Hosking it's nothing new.

"There needs to be closer dialogue between tertiary based teacher educators and those in school who are helping teachers."

Since teacher training was de-regulated in the 1990s, there are now 25 institutions that train teachers.

LISTEN ABOVE AS JOHN O'NEILL SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING