Preparing Arab Teachers for the 3rd Millennium: Trends & Challenges

The chapter outlines the challenges and trends in teacher preparation in Arab states. The need is to improve instruction and raise its quality in the knowledge-based societies. After discussing the history of teacher preparation in Arab countries, the author advocates a re-examination of the training process, so that it conforms to new visions of education and the ever changing role of the teacher. He also advocates partnerships between Faculties of Education and schools, so that they can carry out the task of preparation. The chapter stresses the importance of adopting new criteria for accepting newcomers to the teaching profession; seeking to renew teacher training programs at the university level on a continuing basis. The author highlights the importance of adopting measures that have become common, such as teacher certification and program accreditation, training programs and promotion and setting standards for teachers. Finally, it calls for establishing a research center specialized in teaching and instructional methods. The center will produce professional models for preparing teachers.