The management of teacher competence

Abstract

This study investigates the perceptions held by the teaching fraternity of teacher competence. The original eight areas of competence (the learning environment, professional commitment of the teacher, discipline, educational foundation of the teacher, teacher reflection, cooperative ability of the teacher, effectiveness and leadership style) were based on a research project completed in June 1995 where 1265 teachers were asked to give their perceptions on 74 items based on what competent teachers do. During 1996 eight groups of MEd students used a literature study to investigate these eight original theoretical constructs in greater detail. They designed a structured questionnaire containing 108 items relating to teacher competence and two successive factor analyses on the data revealed two factors which were named: (1) educative competence; and (2) collaborative competence