The Social Reconstructionist Approach to Teacher Education: A Necessary Component to Achieving Excellence and Quality Education for all

Abstract

Improving all aspects of the quality of education is dependent on preparing teachers to become critical citizens. The social reconstructionist approach to teacher education is essential to transforming an education system defined by inequity, issues of quality, and issues of access. How do pre-service teachers perceive the mission of quality education for all in Jamaica? The findings reported in this article form part of a small scale qualitative exploratory study aimed at understanding what impacts quality education for all in Jamaica? The findings show pre-service teachers' viewed quality education for all as being impacted by a lack of quality teachers, a weak national economy, a lack of parental and community involvement in education, limited resources, and inadequate and poor physical infrastructure. On this basis, the article argues for a social reconstructionist approach to be incorporated into existing and future teacher training programmes as teachers and teacher educators are key components to improving quality education for all.