Education Ministry officially announces the National Program for Preparing and Qualifying New Teachers
Alaa Khalifa
The Ministry of Education announced the National Program for the Preparation and Qualification of New Teachers, as part of its initiative to build an integrated system for preparing and professionally, pedagogically, and practically qualifying teachers before they fully assume the teaching profession.
In a press release, the Ministry of Education stated that the program for preparing and qualifying new teachers represents a comprehensive national pathway to prepare and qualify teachers before their permanent appointment in the teaching profession. This aims to enhance the integration between theoretical academic preparation and practical application in the educational field, and to improve the new teacher’s readiness in terms of knowledge, pedagogy, professionalism, and psychological well-being, while supporting their stability during the initial years of service.
The Ministry noted that the program is guided by the InTASC standards, which focus on four main areas: the learner, content, instructional practice, and professional responsibility. These are structured within three primary dimensions: instructional performances, core knowledge, and professional values, encompassing ten fundamental standards and sub-standards that integrate knowledge of the learner, content, instructional practice, and professional responsibility.
It clarified that the professional qualification of new teachers is distributed as 45% theoretical training and 55% field training within schools. To pass the program and obtain the required qualification, a minimum score of 75% must be achieved. In case this threshold is not met, the teacher will be appointed to an administrative position based on their educational university degree.
The Ministry specified that the target group includes graduates from colleges and other universities, subject to the needs and approved regulations. The designation for new teachers within the project will be “Trainee Teacher,” in accordance with the numbers required by the Ministry of Education.
It also indicated that the project includes the adoption of the “Dal” platform and the creation of an electronic portfolio (E-Portfolio) for each new teacher to monitor their performance and professional progress, and to document the stages of their qualification. The trainee teacher’s electronic portfolio will be available through the platform under the name “Trainee Teacher Guide” on the Ministry’s website.
