Teacher Education Reforms between Higher Education and General Education Transformations in South-Eastern Europe - Reviewing the Evidence and Scoping the Issues

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by jay

Reforms in initial teacher education across South-Eastern Europe are examined as part of broader higher-education change and as a response to shifts in general education that shape teachers’ preparation. Using regional literature and reports, the paper reviews evidence and insights on postsocialist education transformations. Key issues include structural versus curricular reform gaps, weak theory–practice reflection opportunities, fragmented provision, insufficient cross-curricular approaches, limited shared vision of quality teaching, and missing formative links within quality assurance systems.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Teacher education and change

Teacher Education Reforms between Higher Education and General Education Transformations in SouthEastern Europe: Reviewing the Evidence and Scoping the Issues Nataša Pantić1 • The present paper considers reforms and developments in teacher education in South-Eastern European countries as part of overall reforms in higher education, and in light of changes in general education that impact teachers and their preparation. The paper reviews the literature and reports from the region that offer some evidence of and insights into the issues surrounding teacher education reforms in the contexts of postsocialist education transformations in South-Eastern Europe. It scopes the issues relating to: structural and curricular changes in teacher preparation; coordination of reforms across different levels; development of a common vision of good teaching in cooperation between teacher education institutions, schools and communities; and quality assurance of teacher preparation. The identified issues include: the superficial nature of structural reforms and the neglect of substantial curricular changes; the dearth of opportunities for reflection linking theory and practice; insufficiently developed cross-curricular approaches to teacher education reforms; the fragmentation of teacher education along a number of lines; the absence of a common vision of quality teaching, and of formative links between quality assurance systems for teachers, schools and teacher education providers. Finally, the paper outlines potential avenues for future developments and implications for teacher education policies and practices. Keywords: educational change, higher education, teacher education, South-Eastern Europe 1 Institute for Education, Teaching and Leadership, The Moray House School of Education, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom [natasa.pantic@ed.ac.uk](natasa.pantic@ed.ac.uk) Reforme izobraževanja učiteljev med transformacijami visokega in splošnega izobraževanja v jugovzhodni Evropi: pregled stanja in prikaz problemov Nataša Pantić • Prispevek obravnava reforme in razvoj na področju izobraževanjaučiteljev v državah jugovzhodne Evrope kot del reform v visokem šolstvu pa tudi v luči sprememb v splošnem izobraževanju, ki vplivajona učitelje in njihovo izobraževanje. Opravljena je analiza literature in poročil iz regije, ki v kontekstu postsocialističnih transformacij edukacije v jugovzhodni Evropi govorijo o nekaterih problemih s področjaizobraževanja učiteljev in omogočajo vpogled vanje. Obravnavaneso teme, povezane s strukturnimi in kurikularnimi spremembami v usposabljanju učiteljev, koordinacijo reform med različnimi ravnmiizobraževanja, z razvojem skupnih smernic kakovostnega poučevanja vsodelovanju institucij za izobraževanje učiteljev, s šolami in skupnostmiter z zagotavljanjem kakovostnega izobraževanja učiteljev. Identificirane teme vključujejo: površinski značaj strukturnih reform in zanemarjanjebistvenih kurikularnih sprememb, pomanjkanje priložnosti za reflektivno povezovanje teorije in prakse, nezadostno razvite medkurikularne pristope k reformam na področju izobraževanja učiteljev, razdrobljenostizobraževanja učiteljev med več strokami, odsotnost skupne vizije kakovostnega poučevanja in tvornih povezav med sistemi zagotavljanjakakovosti za učitelje, šole in za institucije, ki izobražujejo učitelje. Vsklepnem delu so poudarjene mogoče poti nadaljnjega razvoja politik in prakse na področju izobraževanja učiteljev. Ključne besede: spremembe v izobraževanju, visoko šolstvo, izobraževanje učiteljev, jugovzhodna Evropa Introduction The reforms of initial teacher education programmes are part of thereforms and developments in higher education. They include changes in programme structures, a shift from input-based to outcomes-based education, competence-oriented curricular changes, new ways of thinking about accountability in education, and new links between higher education and graduates’future employment. At the same

FAQs

What is the main focus of the paper on teacher education reforms?

It examines how reforms in initial teacher education in South-Eastern European countries relate to broader transformations in higher education and to changes in general education that affect teacher preparation.

Which reform issues does the paper scope?

It addresses structural and curricular changes, coordination across levels, developing a common vision of good teaching with cooperation between institutions and schools, and quality assurance for teacher preparation.

What shortcomings in teacher education reforms does the paper identify?

It highlights the superficial nature of structural reforms, neglect of substantial curricular changes, limited opportunities to connect theory and practice through reflection, fragmented provision, and absence of a shared vision plus weak formative links in quality assurance systems.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by jay