The Contexts of Teacher Education: Implications for Decision Making in Teacher Education in Developing Areas.

Overview & Synopsis

Teacher educators everywhere are examining programs and delivery modes as a result of a decade of studies and commissions on the reform of teacher education. However, for teacher education policy makers in developing areas, the contexts of teacher education hold special implications. The purpose of this paper is to identify a number of crucial contexts for teacher education planners in developing areas and to suggest some implications of these contexts for decision making. Five contexts are identified: (1) the current reform movement in teacher education; (2) the availability of resources for teacher education; (3) the use of teacher growth models as a conceptual basis for teacher education; (4) the attitudes towards national development; and (5) the professionalism of teachers. Two problem areas exist--the preservice/inservice linkage and the shortage of teachers. These problems are discussed in light of these contexts. (Author/JD)