Teaching Practice in Two Jamaican Colleges

Jamaica, like other countries has been plagued with the problem of pro­viding quality education for its growing population. Research evidence supports the claim that it is crucial to change the way prospective teachers are trained for them to be relevant in our continuously changing global village. Teacher education programs must tackle serious issues acquired and embedded in the education system, the curriculum, and the social and environmental conditions that impinge on the performance of prospective teachers. Relevant published literature on teacher education and teaching practice in Jamaica, and the Caribbean has not been readily available, hence the reliance on research from North America to inform, and enrich teacher educators' understanding of the teaching- practice experience at the teaching-practice sites. This book therefore provides an opportunity for professionals in teacher education, prospective teachers, and people genuinely interested in education to examine research, the authentic experiences, and per­ceptions of student teachers and their supervisory teachers, during the teaching practice exercise.