Resumen

RODRIGUEZ TRUJILLO, Nacarid. Challenges of teacher education in Venezuela. Rev. Ped [online]. 2004, vol.25, n.73, pp.03-12. ISSN 0798-9792.

Venezuelan teacher education at 21st century’s dawn must face and help to find solutions to various challenges. On one side it is imperative to keep up with scientific and technological progresses, on the other side it is also necessary to deal with the quality of compulsory education and with equity problems. Finally it is necessary to confront those challenges that come from the unique characteristics of  teacher education  in the country, its evolution and our cultural dependence. Given the key role played by teachers in the development of our future citizens, it becomes imperative and urgent to update their education as well as the institutions devoted to it. It is within that framework that we selected five key change issues to be discussed: a) from a technological teacher to a critical teacher; b) from pedagogic ignorance to a pedagogy-based  curriculum; c) from theory separated from practice to constant reflection on practice; d) from a disciplinary curriculum to an interdisciplinary one; e) from teachers as isolated practicioners to teachers as a community of practitioners with a social commitment.

Palabras clave : Curriculum; teaching; teacher education; higher education; Venezuela.