Developing Primary Teacher Educators’ Capacity

Room 00-13, Ground Floor Chambers Building, OU, Milton Keynes

International Development seminar presented by Professor Caroline Dyer (Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds).

Lunch (provided) from 13.00, presentation & discussion 14.00 - 15.30. To reserve your free place, please email Claire Emburey.

Abstract
The recent rapid expansion of children’s primary school enrolment in Bangladesh and India has highlighted the strained capacity of their state education systems to ensure quality learning. Concern over what and how children are actually learning in many state-managed primary classrooms has precipitated closer attention to teacher preparation. Despite this, the preparation of teacher educators – who are, de facto, at the centre of effort to improve classroom teacher preparation and thus arguably the linchpins of educational reform in both countries – has been neglected in both research and policy. While primary teacher educators are expected to play a key role in shaping teachers’ competencies and characteristics, it is well known that few of them have knowledge and experience of primary classroom teaching themselves. This paper reflects on the governmentality, policies, practices and challenges associated with developing the capacities and competencies that teacher educators need to be able to meet the challenges and demands of preparing primary teachers adequately and effectively.