Factors influencing pre-service teachers' decisions to become secondary science and mathematics teachers.

Dawson, Vaille

Recent reports from the Australian Council of Deans of Science (ACDS) and the Science Teachers Association of Western Australia (STAWA) predict an increasing shortage qualified mathematics and science teachers (e.g. ACDS, 2005). This predicted shortage may impact negatively on the opportunity of secondary students to further their studies in mathematics and science. With up to 40% of early career science teachers stating they may not remain in teaching (ACDS, 2005) it is essential that we engage and enthuse future science and mathematics teachers who are currently studying in our universities. This paper reports on a written survey of 150 pre-service teachers enrolled in secondary science or mathematics education in five Western Australian universities. Students were asked why they had chosen to study science or mathematics and teaching at university and what they perceived would be their biggest challenges when they commenced teaching. The results of this study may be used to increase retention within courses by taking account of preservice teachers' reasons for selecting science and mathematics teaching as a profession, and attempting to allay their primary concerns about teaching.

WESTERN Australia; SCIENCE education (Secondary); MATHEMATICS education (Secondary); SCIENCE teachers; MATHEMATICS teachers; TEACHER retention; UNIVERSITIES & colleges

Teaching Science: The Journal of the Australian Science Teachers Association, 2007, Vol 53, Issue 4, p28

1449-6313

Academic Journal