In-service teacher training for agricultural education in the Netherlands: From supply to demand

• Published in: International journal of educational development 1996, Vol.16 (1), p.89-95
• Main Author: Jongmans, C.T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Educatie- en competentiestudies; Education and Competence Studies; Education and Learning Sciences; MGS; Onderwijs- en leerwetenschappen
• ISSN: 0738-0593; 1873-4871
• DOI: 10.1016/0738-0593(94)00059-3

This article reports the results of research on in-service teacher training in agricultural education in the Netherlands. Seven agricultural education centres (in Dutch: AOCs) and six institutes which are involved in in-service teacher training participated in this research. The data were collected by way of structured open interviews with persons ( N = 16) responsible for the in-service policy of their organization. The Dutch government has changed the rules concerning in-service teacher training. The in-service budget has been transferred from in-service training institutes to schools. Accordingly, a new situation has arisen, for both schools and in-service training institutes. Schools will have to show a more active in-service policy than before; in-service training institutes can no longer offer schools in-service training activities which they deem necessary. More than in the past these institutes have to meet the in-service training needs of schools. In literature this is called a shift from a supplied to a demanded in-service training organization. This research has been carried out in order to gain insight into the way the institutes involved will organize their in-service policy in the near future, and, as a result, to give recommendations to help these institutes to make these policies. At this moment it appears that agricultural education in the Netherlands lacks certain fundamental conditions in order to achieve professional growth of teachers.