Teacher education and the universities in New Zealand: Dilemmas and directions

Abstract

Since 1991 teacher education has been an integral part of the University of Waikato, following a merger between the University and the former Hamilton Teachers' College. To date it is the only such school in New Zealand though an agreement between Massey University and Palmerston North College of Education will result in a similar pattern there in 1996. Other Colleges of Education have formal links with neighbouring universities for cooperative delivery of undergraduate preservice teacher education. Preparing teachers for a state education system involves multiple goals such as individual development, universal literacy, citizenship, national identity and economic development and occupational skills. Inevitably goals like these are politically and socially determined. Taking these goals into account this paper will explore some of the tensions inherent in university based teacher education.