Issues in competence and pre-service teacher education. Part 1.Can outcomes-based programmes produce competent teachers?

Abstract

The Department of Education's Norms and standards for educators (Department of
Education 2000) require that higher education institutions design and implement
outcomes-based teacher education programmes to enable novice teachers to
demonstrate their competence across a range of teacher roles. In this article the
question of whether outcomes-based programmes can produce competent
teachers is explored. This is done firstly by taking a closer look at competence
and competence-based education, the role of standards and the four types of
competences as defined in the Norms and standards for educators. Thereafter we
discuss outcomes and outcomes-based education. The article also points out the
necessity of distinguishing between competences for beginning and pre-service
teachers on the one hand and experienced teachers on the other.

South African Journal of Higher Education Vol. 19 (2) 2006: pp.229-245