A Study on the support received by Student Teachers During a the Teaching Practice Stage 1 of the Post Graduate Diploma in Education Programme

Abstract

The Purpose of this study was to examine the support received by the student teachers during teaching practice stage I of the Post Graduate Diploma in Education programme conducted by Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL). The target population of this study consisted of student teachers registered at Jaffna Regional center of the OUSL in 2011/2012 academic year. 150 student teachers who completed their teaching practice stage I in the same academic year participated in the study. Research data were collected by using questionnaire. 53 student teachers responded for the questionnaire survey. Data were analyzed in percentages. The results revealed that Principals and Mentors have supported the student teachers to a satisfactory level. They also indicated that the Master teachers played their roles to some extent but their support provided to the student teachers was not enough. This study expands our understanding of the support provided by different people to the student teachers during Teaching Practice stage I.