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Dinesh Kumar, Lovely Professional University Unit 1: Teacher Education: Meaning, Historical Perspectives

Unit 1: Teacher Education: Meaning, Historical Notes

Perspectives

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
1.1 Meaning of Teacher Education
1.2 Historical Perspectives of Teacher Education
1.3 Summary
1.4 Keywords
1.5 Review Questions
1.6 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this unit, students will be able to:
• to discuss about the meaning of teacher education.
• to describe the historical perspectives of teacher education.
Introduction

The progress of a country depends upon the quality of its teachers and for this reason teaching is the
noblest among all professions. India has made considerable progress in education since independence
with reference to overall literacy infrastructure and universal access and enrolment in schools. The
teacher must now be equipped not only to teach but also to understand the student and the community
of parents so that children are regular in schools and learn. The country has to address the need of
supplying well qualified and professionally trained teachers in larger numbers in the coming
years, so there is a great need of qualitative teacher education to fulfill the dream of nation.

1.1 Meaning of Teacher Education

1.1.1 Meaning and Nature of Teacher Education
Meaning of Teacher Education: It is well known that the quality and extent of learner achievement
are determined primarily by teacher competence, sensitivity and teacher motivation.
The National Council for Teacher Education has defined teacher education as. "A programme of
education, research and training of persons to teach from pre-primary to higher education level".
Teacher education is a programme that is related to the development of teacher proficiency and
competence that would enable and empower the teacher to meet the requirements of the profession
and face the challenges therein.
According to Goods Dictionary of Education Teacher, education means, "all the formal and non-
formal activities and experiences that help to qualify a person to assume responsibilities of a
member of the educational profession or to discharge his responsibilities more effectively."
In 1906-1956, the program of teacher preparation was called teacher training. It prepared teachers as
mechanics or technicians. It had narrower goals with its focus being only on skill training. The

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