Abstract
The purpose of this current study was to examine the undocumented motives of the first-year science and nonscience student teachers from seven different undergraduate teacher education programs in one public university, Jambi, Indonesia. Data were collected through a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. A total of 593 completed questionnaires received from participants who enrolled in seven different undergraduate teacher education programs (biology, chemistry, economics English, history, mathematics, and physics education programs). Interview data were obtained from eighteen participants who were willing to be interviewed. The frequency of each statement was computed and expressed as percentage of its total score while interview data were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and carefully analysed. Our findings indicated that the first-year student teachers‟ interpretations of their motives for entering teacher education programs were quantitatively and qualitatively interwoven among altruistic, intrinsic, and extrinsic motives across participants. Policy implications are also discussed. Keywords: Indonesian student teachers; Motives; Teacher education policy.
Highlights
New senior high school graduates‟ interest in entering four years undergraduate teacher education programs has been increasing in Indonesia
All first-year student teachers allowed researchers to use the data in the study. Evidence from this current study indicated that the first-year science and non-science student teachers‟ interpretations and explanations of their motives for entering teacher education programs were quantitatively and qualitatively interwoven among altruistic, intrinsic, and extrinsic motives across participants of seven different undergraduate teacher education programs
It is surprising that few prior studies have documented student teachers‟ motives and explanations to become a teacher by entering teacher education programs in Indonesia except for Mukminin et al (2017a) and Mukminin et al (2017b) whose studies focused on year 2, 3, and 4 English as foreign language (EFL) student teachers‟ motives to become a teacher through entering an English teacher education program
Summary
New senior high school graduates‟ interest in entering four years undergraduate teacher education programs has been increasing in Indonesia. The increase in the number of senior high school graduates entering teacher education programs has indicated that teaching profession may not become the last choice of young people in Indonesia. The findings of several studies indicated that loving working with children or young people was one of the altruistic motives for person‟s goal to enter teacher education to become a teacher (Fokkens-Bruinsma and Canrınus, 2012; Kılınc et al, 2012; Kyrıacou et al, 1999; Laı et al, 2005; Manuel and Hughes, 2006; Mukminin et al, 2017a; Rıchardson and Watt, 2006; Yong, 1995)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
