PRESENT STATUS OF RESEARCH IN TEACHER EDUCATION IN INDIA

Abstract

Research in teacher education has its unique nature along with two purposes, i.e. to understand  the educational phenomenon and to transform it. The areas of research in this field cover  a large area of inputs like goals of teacher education; characteristics of teacher educators as well as student teachers; processes such as classroom interactions and outputs like gaining of theoretical knowledge, acquisition of required skills and attitudes, etc. In case of research methodologies, mainly descriptive surveys, experimental studies, developmental studies, relational studies, action research, etc are used. In India, research in teacher education was started by
Banerji in 1956, which was further characterised with some remarkable aspects like quantitative leap, systemization of instruction, larger coverage of objectives and alternative model. The implications of research findings in the field of education are not of its expected level. The reasons behind it are lack of qualified and skilled researchers, shortage of funds, unavailability of enough facilities and resources, etc. So researchers should be self motivated considering the need of research in this field and the government must take some necessary steps such as establishing proper networking among educational institutions, provide adequate facilities
and funds at the time of need, etc. Only then research in teacher education will have its expected impact on the educational development of our country.