Teachers, Teacher Education, and Professional Development
In 1994, the Teacher Education Act deregulated teacher education. This enabled all universities and teacher colleges to establish teacher education programs in order to produce K–12 teachers. A 2005 amendment to the Teacher Education Act required teacher colleges to transform into education universities and provide the same teacher education programs as regular universities.
Prospective elementary school teachers must have a college degree with up to 40 credits from a teacher education program. The 40-credit-hour program for primary school teacher education includes course requirements in each of the following areas: education foundations (e.g., educational psychology, philosophy, and sociology); general methods (e.g., principles of counseling, testing, and measurement); teaching methods (e.g., nature and social science); and basic subject content (e.g., children’s literature, general mathematics, and science). Upon completion of the program, primary school teachers are expected to be able to teach any subject when necessary.
Following graduation, prospective teachers participate in a one semester supervised practicum at a school, after which they must take a national written qualification examination. Once they pass the examination, new teachers are eligible to interview for employment. The Bureau of Education in each regional government is responsible for recruiting teachers for local schools. The Bureau forms a committee composed of college professors, school administrators, teachers, parents, and local government personnel to select teachers.7
Requirements for Ongoing Professional Development in Reading for Teachers
Teachers are required to participate in in-service training for a certain number of credit hours each year that varies across schools and districts. Each school arranges its own training program for its teachers; alternatively, teachers may attend seminars and workshops related to their own interests and needs. After each seminar or workshop, participants receive a statement of credits earned. Following PIRLS 2006, more reading instruction-related workshops became available for primary school teachers. This is described in detail in the Use and Impact of PIRLS section.