A PARADIGM SHIFT IN PRE SERVICE TEACHER EDUCATION IN INDIA

Professional preparation and professional development of teachers is a continuous process. It begins with the selection of an aspirant teacher and includes his initial preparation induction into the profession and his continuous development throughout his teaching carrier. The system of teacher preparation has come under considerable pressure as a result of the expansion and growth of school education, through efforts to universalize elementary education. Presently, the education of teacher educators takes place mainly through the well-entrenched two-year teacher trainee programme. It is a promising development that the education of teacher educators has been acknowledged as a major issue in teacher education and academic bodies have addressed themselves to the task of curriculum renewal. This is evident in the different models of teacher trainee programme that have been proposed by individual universities and innovative programmes of teacher preparation launched by some institutions. The concern to make the teacher trainee programme a focussed learning encounter rather than a general study of education is clearly visible. The need for professional rigour, relevance of content, emphasis on research related skills are also appreciated. These concerns demanded that out of the box to think in addressing the issue of new programme designs for the education and training of teacher educators.