Teacher education programs: learning from worldwide inspiring experiences

Abstract

Over the last years, an increasing number of studies and reports showing dissatisfaction with the quality of teacher training programmes have appeared. Now more than ever it is necessary to ask ourselves on the importance of the improvement of the initial training of teachers, so that they can have a real performance in classrooms. For this reason, the authors propose an analysis and reflection about a series of initiatives identified in the literature around the world. The reforms and innovations presented have been classified into five categories of analysis that refer to: the establishment of standards in training institutions, the use of evidence and research on teaching practices, the alternative qualifications, the articulation with educational centers and the external assessment. These categories are illustrated with the cases of the USA and Australia, as well as those of England, the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden. We base ourselves on the supposition that certain national proposals offer inspiring ideas to reconsider the teacher training programmes in supranational scenarios and other educational realities.