An investigation of efficacy of teaching practice exercise to prospective science and Mathematics Teachers: a case study of Morogoro Teacher’s College

The study investigated the efficacy of teaching practice exercise to prospective science and mathematics in Teachers Training College. The objectives of the study focused on the preparation of science and mathematics student teachers in terms of pedagogy and academic content knowledge prior to teaching practice exercise, the organization of the teaching practice exercise toward improving teaching profession and the link between theory and practice during teaching practice sessions in practicing schools. The study conducted at Morogoro Teachers College where qualitative research approach was applied and case study design was employed to achieve the objectives of this study. The total informants involved were 38 including 24 student teachers, 8 tutors, 4 heads of departments, and 2 heads of practicing schools who were selected purposively, and through stratified simple random procedure and cluster sampling techniques. Data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, observations and the documentary review. Content analysis method was used to analyse data thematically. The findings revealed that the content provided to science and mathematics student teachers was too minimal in that it did not reflect fully what they would do so as to teachers in secondary schools and it is not covered on time prior to TP. The findings further revealed that organization of TP was not effective as it started very late due to absence of funds, lack of orientation to the proper teaching skills and also lack of practical preparation to the teaching tools. The link of theory and practice was found to be poor in schools due to poor preparation of science and mathematics student teachers in PCK and organization of TP in the college prior to TP. Conclusively, it can be said that teaching practice exercise conducted in Morogoro teachers college does not develop fully the efficacy to prospective science and teachers college does not develop fully the efficacy to prospective science and mathematics teachers toward improving their teaching profession. The study recommends that TIE should restructure the content for science and mathematics so as reflect or cut across what is taught in secondary schools, MoEVT should select student teachers early so as to ensure content coverage in the college, locate enough funds for TP and to be sent early to the college for better TP organization and also they should orient heads of schools on their responsibilities to student teachers during TP.