Challenges to Implementing Partnerships in a College of Teachers’ Education and Secondary Schools in Hosanna Town, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study investigated the challenges of implementing effective partnerships in a College of Teachers’ Education and schools in Hosanna town, Southern Ethiopia, using the study used a descriptive design. The study was conducted in Hosanna town which had two public secondary schools, one private secondary school and one College of Teacher’s Education. The total number of educators was 150. The researchers sampled 37 instructors and 41 school teachers to make a total of 78 respondents.  While there are benefits of forming partnerships among Colleges of Teachers’ Education and schools, bridging the gap between theory and practices of trainees is one of the main established challenges.  Other challenges include gaps between theoretical and practical parts of teacher education programs, lack of finance in implementing partnerships between the college and schools and lack of collaboration between college instructors and teachers. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education should allocate a budget for developing effective partnerships. The regional education office should give training to develop trust among partners. Training should be given to change the pattern of the top to down work order and solve the cultural differences between the colleges and schools.