PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS' NEEDS FOR IN-SERVICE TRAINING PERTAINING TO THE TEACHING–LEARNING PROCESS

Abstract

Introduction: The in-service training needs of primary school teachers are determined based on the opinions of inspectors. However, determining these needs using valid scientific tools and methods leads to objective results. The aim of this research is to display the in-service education needs of primary school teachers about “organizing and implementing the teaching-learning processâ€?. Survey method was used in the study. This study could be a sample for determining in-service training needs of teachers based on their opinions. Additionally, it can be a resource for the experts offering in-service trainings to the teachers by the Ministry of National Education and the researchers as well. Method: The survey method was used as the present in-service training needs of the teachers pertaining to teaching-learning process were tried to be determined. The sample of the study is comprised of 102 state and private primary school teachers working in Gaziantep in the 2009-2010 Academic Year. A questionnaire developed by the researchers was used as the means of data collection. The first part of the questionnaire includes personal information and the second part has 5-likert type 26 questions about “needs for in-service educationâ€?. The frequency, percentages and means of the data have been calculated. T-test has been administered in order to check whether there is a meaningful difference between the state and private primary school teachers' needs for in-service education according to their gender, school type and branch. One-way Anova test has been used to see whether it differs in terms of years of employment and the university they graduated from. Results: The in-service training needs about the teaching-learning process do not differ meaningfully according to their gender, but do so meaningfully in terms of years of employment, branch and school type. It has been found out that the teachers who most need in-service training are those having graduated from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Suggestion: The research suggests that the in-service training needs of the teachers be determined through regular updating and similar studies be carried out in different cities. Key Words: In-service training, Primary school, Teaching-learning process