4.3 The Future

The findings on the question about their future suggest that teachers would want to emulate characteristics of their good teachers. Responses captured the terms they used for describing good teachers are similar to those they described themselves in their future role as teachers. Most importantly, the image of a parent came out very strongly. Additionally, they were beginning to use the college jargon especially as they described the effects on learners. Perhaps the college teaching was already influencing their thinking. In reality, some of them were explicitly attempting to integrate their new knowledge into their vision of themselves. This particular finding tends to suggest that teacher educators might find it useful to infuse students’ knowledge upon entry with the content they are to learn during their training. Investigating entry characteristics could be built into the interviews conducted prior to admission. A bank of their views might be used for the teaching.

The student teachers expressed their determination to go back to teaching in the primary schools, but most also indicated they wished to further their studies. This is an interesting finding, though one should note that there few opportunities at present for primary school teachers in Lesotho to upgrade themselves. It is also important that as they think about going back to teach in the primary school, they express enthusiasm about emulating good teachers, just as was found by Williams’ (1998) study, which investigated attrition rate. A national survey on this issue is of paramount importance as it will inform all concerned particularly the Ministry of Education Planning Unit.