The Faculty of Education and Community Studies (FEDCOS) has implemented a new teaching practice programme for second-year students. This initiative, known as Teaching Practice 1 (TP1), aligns with requirements set by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Commission for University Education (CUE), mandating two teaching practice sessions for all education students.
The programme's maiden cohort consists of 950 students who will be placed in Junior Schools (JS) to gain familiarity with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). This curriculum is not yet implemented in Secondary Schools (SS), but future cohorts will be posted to SS when the CBC expands.
To ensure a smooth experience, FEDCOS has developed a mentorship programme. Each student will be assigned a Mentor Teacher by the head teacher of their respective school. The Mentor Teacher will guide the student on various aspects of the school system, including CBC documents and lesson planning.
Students will spend the first four weeks observing lessons and auditing their Mentor Teachers using a provided checklist. Following this observation period, students will be allowed to teach up to eight lessons per week under the direct supervision of their Mentor Teacher.
The Faculty acknowledges the significant effort required from Mentor Teachers, many of whom hold degrees or even postgraduate degrees. To address any concerns and facilitate communication, the Dean's office established zone-specific WhatsApp groups for students and supervisors. These groups provide daily responses to any students' issues by the various zone coordinators.
Assessment for TP1 will focus on documentation rather than formal classroom evaluations. Students are required to develop a programme of work and maintain a logbook recording daily activities and lessons learned. This logbook will be endorsed weekly by the Mentor Teacher and uploaded to the student's E-portfolio.
The E-portfolio will guide students through seven learning activities, each requiring submissions and supervisor feedback. Additionally, students will participate in Community Service Learning (CSL) activities as mandated by TSC and CUE. The TP team has developed guidelines to ensure successful completion of CSL projects.
To document their experiences, students will be required to submit a comprehensive report on their TP1 involvement. Supervisors will also visit students twice to monitor progress and gather data on observed and taught lessons. Rubrics developed by the TP team will guide this data collection process. The Faculty has also ensured the printing of handbooks for supervisors, head teachers, and students.
To address the needs of students who have not yet participated in Teaching Practice 1 (TP1), the Faculty of Education and Community Studies (FEDCOS) has developed a comprehensive online module. This five-week intensive training program will equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to comply with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). Upon successful completion of the module, all participants will receive a certificate of completion.
This rollout of TP1 aims to meet TSC and CUE requirements while providing valuable hands-on experience for students. The Faculty remains committed to addressing any challenges and ensuring the programme's continued success.
Dean, FEDCOS
