An Exploration of the Preparation and Organization of Teaching Practice Exercise to Prospective Science and Mathematics Teachers toward Improving Teaching Profession at Morogoro Teachers’ College

Abstract

This paper explored the preparation and organization of teaching practice exercise to prospective science and mathematics teachers in Tanzania teachers college specifically Morogoro Teachers’ College toward improving teaching profession. Due to the challenges stated by different scholars on preparation and organization of teaching practice exercise, the researcher doubt whether the teaching practice exercise prepared and organized at Morogoro teachers college during training helps the prospective science and mathematics teacher to improve their teaching professions. The study employed qualitative approach with a case study design. Key informant interview, documentary review and focus group discussion were the main methods of data collection where 32 respondents were purposively involved in data collection. Content analysis was used to analyze data thematically. The study found that the preparation and organization of teaching practice exercise at Morogoro teachers college was not effective to improve teaching profession of the prospective science and mathematics teachers, because the student teachers were not oriented practically to the teaching tools and towards proper teaching skills. On top of that the raking of the schools was not well conducted. Also the duration of teaching practices were not enough as well as inappropriate time planned for the exercise.

Key words: Preparation and Organization, Teaching Practice, Teacher Education, Science and Mathematics, Prospective Science and Mathematics Teachers, Student Teacher, Tutors.