Educational Needs of Form Teachers in Primary and Secondary Schools in Slovakia: Pilot survey results

Abstract

An innovative approach to delivering pre-service teacher training to student teachers in individual areas is considered crucial in the smooth digital transformation of education in Slovakia. One of the major shortcomings of the current pre-service training of student teachers is the fact that not all higher education institutions involved in the teacher trainee preparation have incorporated into the relevant part of the curricula the area of acquisition of specific competences of the form teachers with such accent as the requirements of practice would require. The authors present the conceptual and methodological background of a pilot sample survey focused on self-assessment of the educational needs of form teachers at the secondary level of education in Slovakia. The specification of the assessment areas was based on extensive research of available literature, as well as on personal discussions led by different experts.