New Horizons in Education

Abstract

Background: The purpose of education reform is to achieve better quality of life through the promotion of learning and innovation. Today’s increasingly complicated social network has led to growing complexity in the form of education. Faced with the transformation, education personnel shoulder tremendous responsibilities because they have direct effect on the outcome of education reform. Education and professional development for teachers have become crucial since teachers are the pillars of education reform.

Aims: This study presents an overview of initial teacher education in Taiwan as influenced by recent educational reform initiatives. Specifically, the study investigated the status quo and the mechanisms for the professional development of elementary school teachers.

Sample: Assistant principals of academic affairs and personnel directors in public elementary schools in Taipei were sampled to investigate the content, amount of time committed to teacher learning, methods of learning, teacher employment, and use of financial resources. 139 questionnaires were sent, of which 102 were completed and returned to the investigator. The director of teacher education in five teachers colleges and 15 teachers having taken the Teacher Exam were interviewed.

Method: Literature analysis, focus group interviewing, and the survey method were employed in the research process. Major issues in initial teacher education and teacher manpower problems emerged as a result of the study.

Results: All the issues and problems were then discussed and evaluated. Some recommendations were raised with regard to the teacher professional development in the year 2003.

Conclusion: The views of assistant principals of academic affairs regarding teacher examination and their suggestions were presented and discussed in the study. The present study then raised some recommendations to educational administrators, school administrators, and teachers with regard to the practice and further research in initial teacher education and teacher professional development.

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