Natural science education of teachers at universities in Poland

Abstract

The paper examines the problem of Natural Science teachers’ initial training. Natural Science is a subject present in the primary school and upper secondary school curriculum in Poland. The paper focuses on several aspects of Natural Science education. The universities and the institutions offering that type of courses have been considered. The forms, course programmes and their accordance with the current teacher training standards have been examined. The analysis of the data available on the Internet sites of the investigated universities let the author recognize and describe certain characteristics of Natural Science education in Poland. Initial training of future science teachers is taking place in all big universities in Poland. It is run mostly within biology and geography faculties. Both undergraduate, graduate and also post-graduate studies are in offer. Among the available courses the most common group constitutes the initial training for future primary school teachers, which is compatible with regulations of the recent reform of the educational system. Significant differences in the requirements for candidate-teachers depend on the place of studying. The study programmes reveal strict correspondence with the profile of the units which offer them. Not always do they give a complete and satisfying level of subject and pedagogical preparation for the future science teachers.