‘If there is nothing else there is teaching’: Professional identity of preservice teachers in Pakistan

Coupled with developing required knowledge, skills and attitude, preservice teacher education is said to influence professional identity of a student teacher. This research aimed to understand professional identity development of prospective teachers who recently completed their 4-year preservice teacher education programme in a public university in Pakistan. To achieve the stated purpose, the research used a case study approach and collected data through semistructured interviews from five preservice teachers who recently completed their preservice education. The data suggested that moral purpose in teaching was the most influential factor in teacher identity development in this region. In addition, the status of teachers in the region, teaching practice, workplace relationships and prospective teachers' own agency influence the way they shape and reshape their professional identity. Although unexplored through a systematic research, teacher identity has been a frequently discussed topic in the context of Pakistan. This paper reports the voices of unheard and less recognized individuals (teachers) from a remote region of Pakistan. It brings forth some significant insights such as the moral purpose of teaching that has received limited attention in teacher identity development.