In pursuit of teacher quality in diversity: A study of the selection mechanisms of new secondary teacher education programmes in Taiwan

• Published in: International journal of educational development Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 166 - 181
• Main Authors: Wang, Hsiou-Huai, Fwu, Bih-Jen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Admission Criteria; Diversity (Faculty); Educational Change; Foreign Countries; Pre-service students; Preservice Teacher Education; Secondary School Teachers; Selection; Selection Tools; Student Diversity; Taiwan; Teacher Characteristics; Teacher education; Teacher Education Programs; Teacher Effectiveness; Teacher Qualifications; Teacher quality; Teacher Selection; Taiwan; Teacher quality; Pre-service students; Teacher education; Selection; Taiwan
• ISSN: 0738-0593; 1873-4871
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2006.07.003

As the definition of teacher quality changes with time, the selection mechanism of students into teacher education programmes may also change accordingly. In Taiwan, before the 1994 teacher education reform, selection of pre-service students was based solely on academic achievement. Afterwards, the selection was delegated to individual teacher education programmes with varied missions for teacher education. This study examines the degree of diversity and selectivity of the selection mechanisms of these programmes. Data from 48 programmes, including institutional documents, telephone inquiries and governmental reports, were collected and analysed. The results show that the selection mechanisms of these programmes are diverse enough to reflect a variety of characteristics of teacher quality, and rigorous enough to ensure a certain level of quality. Related issues on teacher selection are further discussed.