Research

This is a cross-national study of policies and practices aimed at attracting, preparing and retaining effective teachers, with a focus on teachers of mathematics and science at primary and early secondary levels. The study is being jointly managed by ACER and Michigan State University. The focus of this study is on how different countries educate people to become teachers, and the outcomes of teacher education programs. No empirical cross-national studies have been done to analyze how teachers are prepared and to identify the explicit and implicit expectations for what they should know and be able to do as a result of this preparation. This study will enable countries to compare themselves with other countries in terms of what is expected of teachers in such areas as knowledge of mathematics and science and ability to help students learn these subjects. They can also see what opportunities teachers are given in different countries to meet these expectations.