Challenges Facing Teacher Trainees on Teaching Practice: The Case of Maasai Mara University Students, Narok County, Kenya

Abstract

Teacher education and training forms one of the fundamental pillars that will see Kenya achieve Vision 2030 and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). indeed, one of the main contemporary issue in teacher education and training in Kenya is on how teachers are prepared in order to effectively perform the demands of the teaching profession and resolve the various challenges they face in their roles as professional teachers. Teacher training institutions, including universities achieve their objectives of training effective and competent teachers by exposing them to a wide range of courses focused on the profession including subject areas and professional courses. Of more significance is the field experience or rather internship (attachment) that these teacher trainees undergo during the training; commonly referred to as teaching practice. Teaching practice exposes the teacher trainees to the realms of actual leaching as it takes place in various educational institution and school settings that these very teacher trainees are being prepared to assume after graduating from colleges and universities. However. as new and beginning teachers, experiences on leaching practice may be quite challenging to these prospective teachers. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges facing teacher trainees on field attachment, focusing mainly on curriculum resources, professional and academic issues, mentoring and supervision and socio-economic and health issues. The main findings indicated inadequate curriculum resources in the schools of attachment and lack of some social amenities. particularly accommodation, water supply and road network. Recommendations were made with the need to increase funding for curriculum material to schools by the Government. Donors, NGOs and the Community concerned. Keywords: Challenges, Teacher Trainees, Teaching Practice