Does Teaching Practice Effectively Prepare Student-Teachers to Teach Creative and Performing Arts? The Case of Botswana

Abstract

Teacher Education involves the policies and procedures designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills they require to teach effectively. Teaching practice (TP) is an integral part in teacher education because it allows student-teachers to apply the theories into practice. Effective preparation of student-teachers in practical subjects could help them teach the arts efficiently. As a result, promoting learners’ skills specifically; creative and practical skills support healthy development. This qualitative study explored the extent to which teaching practice in primary Colleges of Education prepared student-teachers to teach Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) subjects in primary schools. The study was conducted in three Colleges of Education located in the South East, Central and Francistown districts of Botswana. The participants were third year student-teachers and students who completed in colleges six to two years ago. The findings revealed that student-teachers in the three Colleges of Education were introduced to the general pedagogy skills of teaching in primary schools by their tutors who in most cases were not arts specialists. There were concerns from student-teachers that lecturers rarely assessed the arts during teaching practice and therefore, trainees did not get any assistance to prepare them to teach the CAPA subjects.