Difficulties in Initiating Teaching: Equality for All?

Abstract

This article addresses the quality of initial teacher training and the level of fit between such training and the demands of professional practice. The results of a comparative quantitative study of 890 new qualified primary teachers are presented who were recent graduates of 23 Chilean colleges and 232 of their employers. The article discusses the difficulties experienced by teachers in the beginning of their professional life. The differences are distinguished between the selectivity of admission to teacher education and teacher initiation contexts.