The Czech education system is facing a serious shortage of qualified teachers for the second level of primary schools and secondary schools. To address this, The Faculty of Science at Masaryk University (MU) is proposing a concrete solution: it is opening admission to a newly accredited study programme that offers a pathway to teacher qualifications in mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics.
“The situation in schools is alarming. Without qualified teachers, the quality of education, and consequently teaching, in regional education will decline. It is very important, therefore, that we produce quality teachers of mathematics (a field with a high weekly time allocation) and science (physics, chemistry and biology are among the so-called deficit occupations, where it is especially important to increase the number of graduates, i.e. future qualified teachers). At the MU Faculty of Science, we want to actively contribute to change this situation and help science graduates expand their professional opportunities with teaching skills”, said Dr. Veronika Švandová, the guarantor of the new teacher training programme at the MU Faculty of Science, ‘Study of education’ for teachers of the second level of primary schools and secondary schools.
“The programme has been developed in accordance with the Czech Government’s ‘Reform of Undergraduate Teacher Training in the Czech Republic’ and introduces many steps earlier than under traditional teacher training. For example, the course will be run by teachers with many years of experience in regional education; a portfolio will be introduced that includes the professional development of the student teacher as a mandatory part their graduation; courses based on interactive seminars will be preferred, with lectures kept to a minimum; and emphasis will be placed on quality of teaching, reflecting current trends in education. As Veronika Švandová explains, “this will enable a smooth transition from tandem teaching with an accompanying teacher to more independent teaching, potentially including tandem teaching with a classmate”.
The new programme is designed for graduates of Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree programmes in the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics) who studied at non-teaching-oriented programs. Thanks to their studies at the MU Faculty of Science, they can now supplement their qualifications and become teachers for the second level of primary schools or secondary schools.
The deadline for applications is 18 May 2025.
More information can be found on the Faculty's website:
Media contact:
Veronika Švandová
veru@mail.muni.cz
549 549 5627
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