Teacher education in times of COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal: national, institutional and pedagogical responses

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on the national, institutional and pedagogical responses as a result of the closure of schools and universities in March 2020 in Portugal. It includes a brief description and analysis of the initiatives and responses to the crisis as well as the difficulties, the challenges and the opportunities. The paper concludes with the discussion of the implications for teaching and teacher education in such uncertain times, particularly in regard to the role of practice as well as issues of mentoring within the context of a practicum as a ‘real practice’ versus ‘an ideal(ised) practice’.

KEYWORDS:

• Teacher education
• COVID-19
• student teachers
• practicum
• learning to teach

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.