FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES / IN-SERVICE TEACHER EDUCATION

                 In our country, the trend is that once a teacher has joined service as a teacher, he continues to be so, through he may or may not study. It is not like that in countries like U.S.A. There the teacher has to face the screening committee to his re-appointment as a teacher after two or three years. In-service education is badly needed for all types of teachers in India.

The following points indicate its need and importance. 

1. EDUCATION- A LIFELONG PROCESS:-

The teacher who does not study side by side can’t remain a good teacher. Training of a teacher is a lifelong process. He should continue making efforts in this direction for the whole life. Rabindra Nath Tagore has rightly stated, “A lamp can never light another lamp unless it continues to burn its flame. “ According to secondary education commission “However, excellent the programme of teacher training may be, it does not by itself produce an excellent teacher. Increased efficiency will come through experience critically analyzed and through individual and group effort and improvement.

2. PROFESSIONAL GROWTH:-

        Every teacher is a expected to be professionally bound, for the professional growth, he always needs the guidance and help of others. The efficiency of the teachers must be covered up. So the teacher need be up to the mark in every way.

3. EDUCATION IS DYNAMIC:-

         Education is very dynamic. It depends upon the society which is fast changing.  Due to the advancement in the field of science and technology, there is explosion of knowledge. Accordingly the curriculum and syllabus are also being changed with a good speed. Continuous in-service education of the teacher can save the teacher from facing dire consequences.

4. MAKES DEMOCRATIC

            In-service education helps the teacher in becoming fully democratic. By in-service education programmes, the teacher is able to meet people of all types and he is also able to share his experience with others.

PROGRAMMES OF IN-SERVICE TEACHER EDUCATION

1.     SEMINAR- In a seminar some problems of education are taken up and there is collective thinking. Discussions are held and conclusions are arrived at all under the guidance of some experts.

2.     REFRESHER COURSES: - A refresher course means an educational programme organized for refreshing the knowledge of in-service teacher. Generally they acquire the teachers with the new development in the field of education. With the coming up of new education policy, refresher courses were arranged all around for teachers of different categories.

3.     WORKSHOPS: - Workshops are organized for giving in-service education to teachers. They involve more of practical work and less theoretical discussion. These types of programmes are more useful for the teachers. The teachers have to work practically and come out with final materials to be seen by others. Organization of workshops consumes more time than a seminar or conference.

4.     CONFERENCE: - In a conference, there is a broad discussion of subjects of practical interest. Generally there is a central theme around which several sub topics are given. Teachers as per their interest, present paper at the time of conference. The session ends with the concluding remarks of the president

5.     STUDY GROUPS: - Forming study groups and using them as a technique for in-service education for teachers can work wonders. A group of teachers of the same subject and a subject expert in the college of education are combined and start working. They choose some topics of common interest (or) it may be a problem related to their teaching subject. Discussion is started under guidance and they continue thinking, studying and discussing that subject. If need arises, someone may be invited for extension lecture. The study groups may be meeting once in a week or even once in a month.

6.     A STUDY CENTRE OF PROFESSIONAL WRITINGS: - Generally the materials are not under the reach of teachers. The college of education, the extension service departments can help in this direction. Various publications of N.C.E.R.T, some good books, materials produced by different centers of education may be produced in the college library.  The study of reading materials will help the teacher to acquire sufficient knowledge in their subjects.

7.     EXPERIMENTAL SCHOOLS: - The College of education should have their demonstration school and experimental school. These are actually practicing schools where some experiences can be performed. Whatever is taught in theory, which is put into practice by carrying out experiments?

a.     The experimental schools become centers of learning for in-service teachers. Innovations done in these schools may be advocated among the teaching staffs of other schools.

b.     Regional colleges of education affiliated to N.C.E.R.T have their experimental schools where those colleges are showing leadership to the working teachers of other schools in their areas. Other colleges have their practicing schools but they don’t have any experimental schools or demonstration schools.

8.     CORRESPONDENCECOURSES:

Correspondence courses can be designed for giving in-service education to teachers. A few universities have already started working in the area of in-service teacher education programmes. Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages at Hyderabad provides post graduate certificate course and diploma course through correspondence.

9.     OTHER PROGRAMMES: - A few programmes for in-service education of teachers are suggested below:-

         Educational tours

         Radio broadcast

         Film shows

         T.V programmes

         Extension lecture for teachers

         Exhibitions

         Exchange of teachers

PROVISION OF IN-SERVICE EDUCATION: Different institutions are functioning where there is a provision of in-service education of teachers.  Some of them are doing commendable work in this field.

1.     STATE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION (SIE): In different states, SIE have been set up which cater to the need of in-service education only. They organize seminars, workshops, etc.

2.     STATE INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE:  In some states, they have set up institutes for in-service education of science teachers. They make efforts for developing scientific attitudes among the teachers. Science exhibitions are also conducted there which attract large number of children from the state. Thus it’s a great source of inspiration for teachers and their students.

3.     REGIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENGLISH: Regional institute of English has been set up in different regions of the country. They have their affiliation with Central Institute of English and Foreign languages; Hyderabad. These institutes impact four month certificate course in teaching English to in-service teachers. The institutes gives scholarship to the trainees and the teachers are paid full salary by the schools were they are employed. These institutes are working for efficiency and improvement of English teachers