TEACHER EDUCATION - TEACHER EDUCATION : A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE - UNIT 8 - COURSE CODE 8626 - AIOU - B.ED

1. TEACHER EDUCATION:
A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE
(8626)

2. INTRODUCTION
 Teacher education and training programs are the backbone of successful educational systems
throughout the world, and must enjoy a significant place in educational policies. Teacher
education is an inter-national profession that requires keeping an eye on global perspective
of this profession to get familiarity about various educational systems, processes and
outcomes. Comparative education aims:
 To describe educational systems, processes, and outcomes
 To assist in development of educational institutions and practices
 To emphasize the education and society relationships
 To comprehend contemporary trends and issues in a global perspective

3. Teacher Education in England
 Teachers must have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to teach in state schools in
England and to obtain QTS the teachers have to get initial teacher training
(ITT) that includes theoretical knowledge and 18 weeks practicing of teaching
during working in schools. To achieve QTS there are certain ways:
 Undergraduate teacher training: enable students to become a teacher while
completing their degree, Bachelor of education (Bed), Bachelor with arts or
science (BA or BSc)
 Postgraduate teacher training: enable students to become a teacher who
already hold a degree Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE).
 Employment based teacher training: allow people to become a teacher while
working in a school Graduate teacher program (GTP) Registered Teacher
Program (RTP) Teach First

4. Teacher Education in Wales
 The National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government have
made efforts to improve overall aspects of teacher training instead of only
focusing on wages and conditions.
 In teacher educational institutions medium of instruction is English or Welsh.
Teacher training institutions are emphasized to offer training in Welsh as a
second language especially for primary ITE students.
 The General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW) has developed certain
professional codes of conduct and ensures its practice for registered teachers.

5. Teacher Education in Scotland
 In Scotland, overall development and control of training and education is the
responsibility of The First Minister and Day-to-day supervision for education
and training is liability of Educational Minister and Young People and Minister
of Enterprise and Lifelong Learning.
 The GTCS is an authority that has to keep record and maintain register for all
teachers who are qualified to teach in Scotland.
 In 2000 The Standards for Initial Teacher Education were published by the
efforts of Quality Assurance Agency, including a set of benchmark statements
which are basic requirements for all programs of Initial Teacher Education in
Scotland

6. Teacher Education Trends in UK
 Expansion of Teach First Program
 Commence of the School Direct Program and enhance significance of ITT
funding providers that are successfully engaged in involving schools in training
programs
 Initiate of the Troops to Teacher Program for ex-service personnel
 Emphasizing successful completion of professional skills test based on literacy,
numeracy qualification as prerequisite for beginning an ITT course
 Provide financial support to student teachers for particular subject area or
with high marks for their first degrees.

7. Teacher Education Programs in USA
 Teacher education in considered as professional training provided to teachers
in United States of America.
 It may be a part of college or university education program.
The key aims of teacher education in USA are:
 preparing teachers for the aspiration and needs of US as a Democratic Nation
and enabling teachers to guide children and adults in their educational
activities.
 Formally primary and secondary teachers are provided training in teacher
colleges knows as ‘Formal Schools’ or at universities

8. Training of Pre-Primary and
Primary/Basic School Teachers
 The State Government set the requirements and certification of pre-primary
and primary school teachers.
 Student teachers have to qualify various exams prior to entrance in formal
teaching education program.
 To qualify entry-level certification, student teachers have to complete a
prescribed program of studies, with satisfactory completion of practicum and
passing the qualifying exam.
 Primary schools teachers are trained as generalists and have to teach most of
subject to a class.

9. Training of Secondary School Teachers
 For secondary teachers, the basic pre-certification is almost same as for the
primary school teachers, but the key difference is that secondary school
teachers are certified after gaining the competence in one or more academic
subjects and carry their subject in their future, whereas a primary school
teacher is certified when he/she is able to teach the full primary course.
 The secondary school teacher get specialization in a subject e.g.
mathematics, history, music, art or science etc.

10. Training of Special Education Teachers
 The Special education teachers are trained in specialized program at both
graduate and undergraduate level.
 They are certified on the basis of their area of specialization e.g. teaching of
deaf, teaching of blinds or visual impaired and various handicapped children
with which teachers have been trained to work.
 The minimum academic requirement is a bachelor degree in special
education, but most teachers possess a Master’s degree and some are with
higher qualification in special education in various states.

11. Training of Higher Education Teachers
 Training of Higher Education Teachers requires the essential expertise and
qualifications to teach at higher level, furthermore teachers at higher level
are supposed to conduct research in the field of their specialization and
interest.
 Generally teachers are required a terminal research degree (PhD or
equivalent) in the area of their specialization.
 For professional or clinical faculty teachers have to possess appropriate
qualification with a good record of successful practice and applied research.

12. Teacher Education Trends in USA
Following are some of teacher education trend highlighting in USA now days:
 Content Focus: teacher education must focus on activities related to subject matter and
content for teaching. Further they must know how students will learn it.
 Active Learning: provide opportunities for teachers receive feedback, analyze students
work, observe and oppose passive listening of students, or make presentation for active
teaching.
 Coherence: goals, activities and content must be coherent with teacher knowledge,
beliefs, and needs of students, school curriculum, and policies of school, district and
state.
 Sustained Duration: professional development activities should continue throughout the
year on base on more than 20 hours of contact time.
 Collective Participation: groups of teachers from same subject, grade, or schools must
interact with each other to create interactive learning communities.

13. Teacher Education in Japan
 In Japan the teacher education is oriented with some special features that
are not observed in any other country such as administration structure,
curriculum and students.
 In one of recent research report it is suggested that teachers’ quality has to
be improved to ensure the quality of primary and secondary education.
 This makes obvious that the success or failure of any educational institution
depends upon teachers’ training and education

14. Training, Recruitment, and In-Service
Education and Training (INSET)
 Initial Teacher Training: under the Educational Personal Certification Law of
1949, all teachers in Japan must have relevant teaching certificate and in
high secondary schools teachers have to possess teaching certificate related
to specific subject area. Generally three types of certificates exists i.e. first,
second and advance certificate.
 Training: Elementary and Secondary school teachers are generally provided
training in junior colleges and universities approved by the Minister of
Education, Science and Culture. Four years elementary teacher training
courses are provided at national universities for most of elementary school
teachers, but some are provided training through other courses at universities
and junior colleges.

15. Cont…
 Recruitment: In Japan teachers are appointed by the relevant authorities and
selected among the candidates who possess relevant teaching certificate.
Generally it is observed that number of candidates are far exceeded the
number actually required at present time in Japan. To overcome this issue
and securing capable teachers, methods of applicant screening and selection
must be improved for example by using practical skill tests, personal
interviews, aptitude test and observing participation in extracurricular
activities etc.
 In-Service Education and Training (INSET): In-service teacher education and
training is considered significant for teachers’ professional development. In
1949, the Law for Special Regulations Concerning Educational Public Service
Personnel was enacted In Japan and according to this law teachers are
expected to get involved in training and research to fulfill their professional
responsibilities

16. Teacher Education in Developing
Countries
Teacher Education in China
 Generally teacher education in China means Pre-service and In-service
education for individuals who are interested to be teacher. The pre-service
teacher education is provided by four types of institutions based on three
levels while teacher education for in-service is provided by a three-level
organization.
 However all types of teacher training institutions work as independent and
closed system for preparing teachers at different levels.

17. Provisions for Teacher Education
Pre-service Training Program:
 Normal Schools (General and Early Childhood): Normal schools enroll graduates
from junior middle school having three or four year of schooling. In normal
(General) schools teachers are provided training for elementary school and in
Normal (Early Childhood) schools teachers are trained for kindergarten and nursery
schools. The curriculum for Normal (General) schools includes geography, history,
political science, Chinese language, mathematics, biology, chemistry, psychology,
educational theories, teaching methodologies, and physical education etc.
 Professional Teacher Colleges: These colleges enroll students from senior middle
schools having two or three years of schooling and provide training for junior
middle school teachers. Curriculum for general courses is based on political
theories, foreign language, psychology, educational theories, teaching
methodologies etc. and for specialized courses the teaching content is varied.

18. Cont…
 Normal Universities and Teacher Colleges: in normal universities and teacher
colleges students are enrolled who are graduate from senior middle school
having four years undergraduate training program.
 These student teachers are trained to teach at secondary (senior) level. The
curriculum is consisted of general subjects’ e.g. political theories, physical
education, educational courses, foreign language etc, specialized courses
which are varied in their content and field work in specialized area.
 It also involves primary research for four to six weeks, productive labor, social
survey and military training for eight weeks, and teaching practice for six
weeks.

19. In-service Training Program
 First, the teachers’ advancement schools at the country level for training
elementary, nursery, and kindergarten school teachers and village supervisory
centers for local elementary school teachers.
 Second, the regional institutes of education or teachers’ advancement
colleges which are providing training for junior middle school teachers.
 Third, the provincial institutes of education or teacher advancement colleges
for secondary school teachers.

20. Teacher Education in India
 In India teacher education is provided by many universities, affiliated colleges, private and
open universities. A teacher education policy has evolved over time and is based on various
recommendations highlighted by different national, it is suggested that The Central
Government Have to develop and encourage teacher education standards, existing teacher
must be provided with in-service training within a period of five years and the Government has
to ensure recommended teacher-student ratio.
 Some of key aims of teacher education in India are, to ensure adequate supply of trained
teacher in the schools, utilize all possible kinds of institutions for providing in-service training
to all existing teachers at all levels, facilitate cooperation and collaboration between teacher
training colleges and institutions, envision a comprehensive model of teacher education, and
to bring about synergy among institutional structures operating at various levels.

21. Development of Teacher Education in
India
 Pre-service Teacher Education The entry qualification for teacher training
programs for elementary school teaching is generally vary from state to state
in India. In most of states and unions the entry qualification is ten year of
schooling and matriculation or high school certificate. While other require at
least 11 years or senior secondary examination mean 12 years of schooling.
 The time duration to complete a teacher education program varies such as
Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) course is one year. A minimum qualification
required for taking admission in B.Ed. program is a bachelor degree from
university.
 Candidates having graduate degree with a B.Ed. degree are eligible to teach
secondary level students and postgraduate students having degree with B.Ed.
degree are capable for teaching at higher secondary level

22. Cont…
 In-service Teacher Education In India the nature and content of in-service
teacher education and training has changed over years to achieve maximum
professional teaching standards and quality. Currently various modalities are
responsible for organizing in-service teacher trainings such as contact
courses, correspondence courses and correspondence-cum-contact courses.
 In some places correspondent courses consists radio lessons. Although
physical and financial facilities are inadequate for providing in-service
education and training to a large number of existing teachers and according
to a survey 12% of teacher are untrained in India. Current Provisions for
Teachers Training.

23. Innovations in Teacher Education
 Teacher Education Methods
 Teacher Education Curriculum
 Program of Mass Orientation of School Teachers
 Establishment of Academic Staff College

24. Teacher Education in Malaysia
 In Malaysia initially very few teacher training colleges were exited. To fulfill
the increasing requirement of trained teachers, The Malaysian Government
put emphasize on the development of new teacher training colleges and in
the era of 1950 -1960 numerous teacher training modalities were existed such
as weekend teachers training course, Simplified Normal training course,
Senior Normal Class and Vocational Teacher Training Course.
 After the establishment of Twelve Day Training Centers with the collaboration
of Malayan Teacher Training College, these all programs were closed.
Currently Malayan 29 Teacher Training Colleges are providing several
specialized courses for teacher training.

25. Teacher Education Institutions
Pre-service Teacher Training
 Pre-service teacher training for both primary and secondary schools is
offered by 29 teacher training colleges and 11 public universities. Teacher
training colleges are working under the Teacher Education Division of the
Ministry of Education in Malaysia.
 Most of teacher colleges are general in nature but some specialist language
institutes, religious colleges, science colleges, vocational and technical
colleges and women colleges are also existed.
 There are normally two types of pre-service programs are being offered, The
Malaysian Diploma of Teaching (MDT) and the Postgraduate Diploma of
Teaching (PDT). In throughout Malaysia each year more than 4000 teachers
are being graduated by MDT and 3000 from PDT program.

26. Cont…
In-service Teacher Training
In-service teacher training is provided by two programs
 i. Special Degree Program
 ii. Special Teaching Certificate and Special Development Courses .
Levels of Teacher Education in Malaysia
 University Level
 College Level

27. Teacher Education in Sri Lanka
 In Sri Lanka teacher education has a long history starting from the mid of 18th
century when a Normal School for teacher training was setup in 1747.
Formally the first government teacher training college was setup in 1903 in
Sri Lanka.
 The Faculty of Education was established in 1975 at the Colombo University;
recently this University is offering teacher education at post graduation level.
 In Sri Lanka, various correspondence training programs have been introduced
for providing general and post-graduation level of teacher training

28. Current Provision for Teacher Education
In-service Teacher Training Programs
In-service training at teaching training colleges:
 Promote professional competence by teaching courses as educational
psychology and educational philosophy
 Enhance academic proficiency through courses in school subjects
 Increase language proficiency via courses in Sinhala, Tamil and English
languages.
 Develop esthetic skills by courses as music, art, and dance etc.
 Provide practical experience through teaching practice.

29. In-service teacher training at university
level
 Teachers’ training at post-graduate level is being provided by the University
of Colombo, University of Peradeniya and Jaffna and by the Open University.
 These all Universities are providing Post-graduate Diploma in Education.
 The programs are offered by the Colombo, Peradeniya and Jaffna universities
as:a full-time one-year program is offered for the private school teacher and
a part-time two-year program is offered for Government school teachers
serving in schools that are existed within ten miles radius of the university.

30. Pre-service education at colleges of
education
 The Ministry of Education has developed ‘Colleges of Education’ to provide
pre-service training to future teachers. The key aims of these colleges are to:
 Produce quality teachers possessing essential skills, attitudes, and knowledge
and perform their duties efficiently especially in relevant to the context of Sri
Lankan school system
 Encourage professional growth of the teachers through the mutual exchange
of expertise work and experiences.
 Enhance the educational quality by enriching the curricula with latest and
relevant content and modernizing teaching techniques.

31. Continuing Education of Teachers
 Educational institutions are providing various opportunities for continuing
education and training of the teachers in Sri Lanka. Many programs including
workshops, seminar, and study circle, conferences, and symposiums are
provided to student teachers for familiarizing them with new innovations in
the field of education occurring throughout the world.
 High degree programs for teachers’ further education are being provided by
the University of Colombo, Peradeniya and Jaffna universities. Master’s and
Doctoral Degree programs are available in these universities, the Master of
Arts and Education (MA), Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Master of Philosophy
(M.Pil.) are also offered to students to get specialization in a field of
Education.

32. Teacher Education in Thailand
 In Thailand, teachers education was introduces by the 1992 National
Education Act that was revised in 2002 emphasizing on essential reforms
regarding teacher education.
 Recently The National Education Council (NEC), developed by the Ministry of
Education, has suggested strategic plans for teachers training and their
professional development.
 Some of these plans are introducing national teacher award, providing
training to new people for filling vacant positions, academic coupons and
reforming all process of teacher training programs to ensure best quality.
 In Thailand teacher training programs are consisted of pre-service and in-
service teacher education for elementary, secondary and higher level
teachers.

33. Teachers Training Institution
 Pre-Service teacher training institutes: there are a number of colleges or
facilities of education which are providing pre-service teacher education in
private and public universities.
 In Thailand, there are 36 teacher education colleges, 17 physical education
colleges, 11 colleges of fine arts and dramatic arts, 20 university facilities
which are under the supervision of the Ministry of University Affairs, and four
campuses of Institutes of Technology and Technical Colleges are offering
teacher training programs for primary and secondary schools, whereas
Rajmongkol University is providing teacher training for vocational institutes.

34. In-service teacher training institutes
 The National Teacher and Education Provision Division (NTEPD) is responsible
for providing in-service education in Thailand.
 The National Teacher and Education Personnel Division is the Office of Basic
Education Commission (OBEC) of the MOE with 178 Local Education Service
Areas (LESA).
 This department provides in-service teacher training for primary and
secondary teachers. The LESA Office also provides training for administrators
and teachers.

35. In-service Teacher Education Programs
 Seminars, meetings, and conferences
 Short-term trainings and workshops
 Formal ling-term training Programs
 Special training programs
 Continuing teacher education programs