How newly qualified primary teachers develop: A case study in rural Eritrea

This paper reports on the professional development of a small group of newly qualified teachers (NQTs) who began their careers in four rural schools in Eritrea. These teachers were monitored over a period of four years from 2001 to 2004. Their development as primary practitioners was recorded by videoing and observing their classes and by interviews and informal discussions held over the period. The ways in which they developed and the factors involved in this development are analysed and discussed.It is hoped that this research offers an insight into the challenges faced by newly qualified teachers in small rural communities, often very much dependant on their own resources and those of the local community. This indicates ways in which the current programme and on-going in-service provision may be targeted in future. An important point is made that in spite of the unusual circumstances of education in Eritrea this research provides insights that are relevant to other sociocultural contexts.     

Quality: What Should Make Higher Education ‘Higher'?

This article addresses what ‘quality’ in education is, and should be. Findings published previously in this journal and elsewhere are drawn together to consider the notion of quality and conditions for its improvement. It is argued that quality in education relates to development of intellectual independence. Both a focus (enhanced metacognition) and a method (Collaborative Action Research) for improving quality are presented. It is argued further that secondary and tertiary education should differ only in the extent of students’ development towards the desired goal. Accordingly, institutions of higher education must take the lead in fostering improvement in quality of education at all levels.     

Teacher Ideology and Sex Roles in Curriculum Texts

This paper explores the relationship between teachers’ general beliefs about sexism in society with their views on sexism in curriculum materials. In so doing, it seeks to elaborate on the nature of teachers’ ideological perceptions of sexism, sex roles and feminism. By analysing sex stereotyping in the school texts of one secondary school for the subjects English, mathematics and French, the research reported in the paper substantiates much of the previous research in this area which has found school texts to be male dominated. In conclusion, the paper suggests that, in certain cases, teacher ideology could be a considerable obstacle to the development of anti‐sexist pedagogies because those teachers who support traditional sex roles tend to resist or devalue anti‐sexist initiatives in education.     

Training program in child abuse for community health workers

A wide range of health workers in the community provide care for families that abuse or have a potential for abusing their children. Frequently these workers are unable to work effectively because of difficulty dealing with feelings aroused by contact with such families.An experimental child abuse training program for community health workers was designed by a pediatrician, a social worker, a public health nurse and two child psychiatrists. This program included a six-month study group which met weekly to focus on feelings and conflcts aroused during the course of work with abusing or potentially abusing families.Through analysis of the group experience, the leaders identified eleven sets of feelings or conflicts which seemed to interfere consistently with effective delivery of care: 1)anxieties about a) being physically harmed by angry parents and b) about the effects of a decision; 2) denial and inhibition of anger; 3) need for emotional gratification from clients; 4) lack of professional support; 5) feelings of incompetence; 6) denial and projection of responsbility; 7) feeling total responsibility for assigned families; 8) difficulty separating personal from professional responsibility; 9) feelings of being a victim; 10) ambivalent feelings a) toward clients and b) about one's professional role; 11) need to be in control.This type of group experience seems to be an effective method for exploration and resolution of feelings and conflicts.