Exploring Current Issues
in Teacher Education in China

 

Shibao Guo
University of Alberta


 

Abstract

 

Teachers have had a long-honored standing in Chinese history. Yet the formal education of teachers is a relatively new development. This article reviews the historical development of teacher education in modern China and its current provisions. A number of issues pertaining to the preparation of teachers for both adults and children are examined. This article reveals that the teacher education system in China is inadequate and requires urgent remedial action. Among the issues discussed the most important are teachers' low political and social status and poor living conditions. Some tentative suggestions are made in the hope that these may help to effect changes in the system in China. Two sources of data are employed in conducting this research: literature and interviews.


Copyright © AJER, the Faculty of Education, and the University of Alberta, 2005.
Last revised
: May 16, 2005.

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