The Welsh education minister has promised changes to the teacher training system in the nation that will see it become one of the best in the world, it has been reported. 

According to the BBC, Huw Lewis has promised that any universities taking part in teacher training will be presented with new guidelines for the process, which will see them asked to make their training courses among the toughest in the world in a bid to improve education systems nationwide in the future. 

In a speech in Cardiff, Mr Lewis lifted the lid on a brand new two-year postgraduate course for teachers, as well as trying to teach a greater level of specialism among those who are planning to move into primary level teaching. 

This comes months after he also announced that plans were in place to extend the amount of time people train as undergraduates to become teachers to four years rather than the current time of three years. On top of this, he said he wants to see teaching improved to the extent that all teachers across Wales will eventually be educated to Masters level. 

"We will have a new teaching training system which is of such high quality and unquestioned rigour that it gives individuals a reason, in and of itself, for the very best people to get into teaching in the first place," he said, claiming that a widespread reform of training in Wales was "vital". 

"I have been clear that we must do more to accelerate improvement in initial teacher education provision across Wales. 

"This is particularly important as we continue with our programme of radical education reform, focused on driving up standards across the board."

Geraint Davies of the NAS/UWT union said that it was a positive move for Mr Lewis to recognise that highly educated teachers will be at the centre of improvements in the education system for years to come, but added that it's vital officials don't forget to make teacher roles an attractive prospect for students as a career.