Teacher Education in Africa: An Overview Cooperation in Teacher Education Seminar Bergen – September 28, 2005 Dr. Edward K. Kirumira Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences Makerere University Uganda

What Are We Talking About? Teaching of teachers in Educational institutions The teachers as agency The (dis)connect in philosophical standpoints to teacher education

The Historical & Local Parameters The Public sector approach The Centers of specialization (excellence) approach Nationalism and nationalization of teacher education training institutions (e.g. the case of transformation of East African Universities) Equivalence of teacher training with “University Education”

Role of Teacher Education in EFA The pressures of mass higher education combined with an unwillingness or inability of the state to adequately support academia, the rise of the private sector and the privatization of public teaching institutions, and an increasing differentiation of the academic system, all contribute to considerable confusion about the roles and functions of teacher education in a new environment

The Contradictions The policy contradictions [downsizing institutions versus populist school enrollment] Divergent philosophies Image of a teacher (national, societal…..) feeding into the teacher education process

The Crossroads Fiscal necessity and accommodation to the market (will) may inevitable change the nature of teacher training Mentorship challenge within the profession

Future Challenges Balancing privatization and professionalism Apportioning emphasis in terms of level of teacher training knowledge production versus human resource training

Challenges (contn…) Regional and International exposure and competitiveness of African teacher training – the need for cooperation Encouraging multi-disciplinary teacher training Linking teacher training to research