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PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture

Improvements in the quality and capabilities of teachers should be accomplished throughout the different stages of their training; pre-service training, induction training and in-service training.

With regard to the pre-service training of teachers and their certification, the Education Personnel Certification Law and related regulations were amended in1988 and 1989. The aims of these amendments included: the improvement of the types of regular teacher certificates; the utilization of citizens from various sectors of society as school teachers; and the upgrading of the requirements for teacher certification. In 1991, along with the generalization of the Standards for the Establishment of Universities, the Ministry carried out necessary revisions, including the abolition of the classification of subjects, which the university sets up for awarding teacher certificates. Attempts have been made at improving the quality of teachers through different employment tactics. These include diversifying selection procedures and making earlier decisions on employment. As regards the in-service training of teachers, one-year systematic induction training programs were created as compulsory for all beginning teachers. These programs were undertaken according to the educational levels: in 1989 for elementary school teachers; in 1990 for lower secondary school teachers; and in 1991 for upper secondary school teachers.

In individual schools, efforts are being made to improve the administration and management of schools with the aim of securing a sound school structure in which all teachers and other staff members may participate in concerted efforts under the leadership of the principal. On the other hand, education authorities have been endeavoring to heir appoint an increasing number of competent younger teachers to administrative positions.