– It’s nice to be a student teacher, and I’ve learned a lot of useful things. It will probably be a bit challenging to be a teacher, but I’m looking forward to it, says Daniel Neckarski. He has one year left on his master’s degree to become a primary school teacher at the University of Stavanger. For those who want to start studying the same, there is currently no competition for places. Today, the overview of the available study places this autumn was published on Samordna optakt. There are vacancies on 63 primary school teacher training courses distributed at various educational institutions in Norway. Daniel worked as a welder, but realized that it was not the direction he wanted to go. Here together with his wife Ingvild and daughters Vilja aged seven months and Thale (2). Photo: Marte Skodje / news Not even twelve courses in lecturer training and 36 as kindergarten teachers have full study places. From welder to teacher Daniel worked as a welder, but realized that it was not the direction he wanted to go. His wife, Ingvild Neckarski, had just completed her teacher’s training, and noticed in her husband that he was ready for something new. Ingvild Neckarski. Photo: Marte Skodje / news – You were tired of being a welder for quite some time. Then I had just finished my education, and said that if he was going to study, now would be a good time, says Ingvild. Not long after, he found out that teaching was a profession that suited him too. – I have so many strange facts that I want to tell about, and kids really care about it, he laughs and adds: – I think working with children is really fun. It also seems like a safe market. I’m not afraid that I won’t get a job. Daniel thinks it’s a shame that more people don’t want to become teachers. He thinks it’s fun to work with children and is not afraid of not getting a job. Photo: Marte Skodje / news In April this year, this year’s list of applicants for teacher studies was presented. These figures showed a dramatic decline in the number of applicants, according to the Norwegian Directorate of Education. There has been a decline in the last four years. Since last year alone, there are 21.9 per cent fewer people who want to start one of these courses. The couple think it’s a shame that more people don’t want to become teachers. – It’s a bit scary. The young are the future. They are the ones who will rule after us, and they need proper education. The teaching profession is not just education, it is also a lot about promotion, says Ingvild. – I think it’s a shame. We need teachers. But I also understand that. It is a very demanding job, adds Daniel. – Not surprisingly, Siri Skjæveland Lode works as a teacher in Gjesdal municipality and is on the central board of the Education Association. She believes that the search figures that came in this spring were a warning. – I think this is serious. We risk that the teacher crisis will get worse and that an increasing number of kindergarten children and pupils do not have a teacher with completed teacher training. Siri Skjæveland Lode, central board member of the Education Association and former teacher in Gjesdal municipality. Photo: Stig Weston / Education Association. She hopes that everyone who is offered a study place therefore now accepts, and that the teacher training programs do what they can to ensure that the students succeed. – What do you think is the reason why fewer people want to become teachers? – The weak wage growth for teachers, cuts in school and nursery budgets, time pressure and perhaps what became visible from the teachers’ strike last year. That the “team around the teacher” is not good enough, so that they feel they are not following up the students well enough. In order for it to become attractive to become a teacher again, it is important that these conditions are addressed, Lode believes. – And then I think it is quite important that everyone talks about the value of having a teacher’s education. I myself have been a teacher for many years and know that the toolbox you need to do a good job, you get it through teacher training. Hope people take the chance. Leader of the Pedagogical students, Kaspara Halkjelsvik, wants to turn the many vacant places into something positive. – Now there are free places! It is a really great profession where you have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people. I hope people take that opportunity now, she says. Kaspara Halkjelsvik, leader of the Pedagogical Students. Photo: Jonas Ohlgren Østvik / Pedagogstudentene She points out that student teachers are among those least satisfied with their own education. Here she thinks the key may lie. – We want better education. We have to go out into a complex everyday life as teachers, and it is important that the education prepares us for that. Halkjelsvik emphasizes that the practice during the study period is among the things that can make the profession and the education more appealing. – We believe that good practice is the key to creating good education and good teachers. This is where you can see if you want to continue or drop out of the education. We want more and better practice.
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Many vacant places on teacher studies throughout the country – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
