Teachers, Teacher Education, and Professional Development
Preschool teachers are required to complete a bachelor’s degree program in nursery-preschool education or graduate or master’s studies in preschool education.27
Teachers in primary and secondary education must hold at least a master’s degree.28 There are differences in the education of general classroom teachers in the first cycle of primary education (Grades 1 to 4) and subject teachers in the second cycle of primary education (Grades 5 to 8). General classroom teachers are educated at specialized faculties for teacher education. These faculties are oriented toward pedagogical and didactical studies, including didactics for subjects taught in the first cycle of primary education. “In their initial education, teachers study mathematics and nature as well as the subjects Teaching Mathematics and Teaching Nature and Society.”29 Some university departments include teacher education programs in their curriculum (i.e., departments of mathematics, language arts, chemistry, biology, etc.), but because almost every faculty in the country is eligible to offer teacher preparation, there is variation in the level of pedagogical preparation among different subject teachers. Until a new law was passed in 2009, subject teachers often would begin teaching without any formal education in psychology, pedagogy, or didactics.30 Now, all teachers are required to study pedagogy, psychology, and didactics before they begin work.
Teacher Education Specific to Mathematics and Science
Teachers working in the first cycle of primary education have been prepared for teaching mathematics and science through courses in those subjects, as well as through teaching mathematics and science at teacher training faculties. Mathematics and science teachers at the second cycle of primary education have been specialized for mathematics, chemistry, biology, geography, or physics through university education.
Requirements for Ongoing Professional Development
Teachers are required to obtain 120 points every five years through participating in professional development activities (typically, one hour of professional development is equivalent to one point). Teacher professional development is a right and a legal obligation. Professional development may take place in schools or outside schools (e.g., teachers may present an experimental class to colleagues or participate in scientific research and present experiences from different learning activities in school; they also may participate in approved professional development programs outside school). Teachers select the programs they wish to attend from a list of programs approved by the Institute for Education Improvement.31