A formação do/a professor/a se constitui em múltiplos espaços de interações, primordiais na constituição da identidade docente. A formação de professores/as em serviço não pode ser vista como uma habilitação pontual e emergencial, mesmo nas áreas das ciências exatas como a Matemática em que o processo de ensino e aprendizagem requer o entendimento de conceitos cruciais, mas também de uma postura didático-pedagógica humana. Mediante esse contexto este trabalho nasceu da seguinte inquietação: Quais são as percepções dos/das professores alunos/professoras alunas do curso de Licenciatura em Matemática do PARFOR/UNEB, polo Cristópolis-BA sobre avanços, limites e efeitos do programa em sua formação e atuação teórico- prática em relação a disciplina Matemática na Educação Básica? E teve como objetivo investigar a formação em serviço do PARFOR/UNEB, polo Cristópolis-BA, a partir da percepção dos/das professores-alunos/professoras-alunas que atuam na disciplina Matemática na Educação Básica. Os principais aportes teóricos utilizados foram: Arroyo, Gatti, Salandim, Tardif e Valente, além dos documentos oficiais como: Lei nº 10.172, de 09 janeiro de 2001; Lei nº 11.502, de 11 de julho de 2007 e Decreto Nº 6.755, de 29 de janeiro de 2009, dentre outras referências. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa do tipo estudo de caso, uma vez que o polo de Cristópolis-BA possui apenas uma turma de Licenciandos/as em Matemática composta por 28 professores alunos/professoras alunas dos quais 23 participaram de pelo menos uma etapa da pesquisa. Para levantamento e organização das informações fez-se uso dos seguintes instrumentos: questionário exploratório para professores alunos/professoras alunas (18 participantes), análise de documentos (Projeto Político Pedagógico e Matriz curricular do curso), entrevista (articulador do polo) e uma seção para cada um dos grupos focais A (10 professores alunos/professoras alunas) e B (7 professores alunos/professoras alunas). Para análise dos dados optou-se pela Análise do Conteúdo. Entre as considerações se destacam: a identidade do/a professor/a com sua área de formação, a necessidade de se repensar a formação em serviço quanto à organização do tempo condicionado à prática docente e as múltiplas jornadas assumidas por esses profissionais. Também se destacam no estudo as dificuldades dos formadores/as em atrelar a teoria à prática e certo distanciamento quanto às várias experiências vivenciadas por esse grupo de professores alunos/professoras alunas, que tem como principal objetivo de sua formação contribuir com sua prática de sala de aula.

Magister Artium - MA / There is global interest in teacher education as a strategy for national development. More specifically, emphasis is placed on teachers as the driving force behind educational provision which is central to achieving high standards of learner achievement. This study focused on teacher in-service development and its role for effective teaching and learning towards the holistic development of learners. Extensive social inequalities, along the lines of race, still exist in South Africa almost twenty years into the new dispensation. This is evident by the vast majority of impoverished schools in previously disadvantaged areas. Learners at these schools experience a range of barriers to learning which impede teaching and learning. Consequently, teachers at these schools are confronted with a tensionfilled task: having to be sensitive to the needs of these learners, whilst at the same having to ensure their success. This is reflected in Department of Education (DoE) policies which emphasises principles of social transformation for redress and equity, coupled with the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills for the benefit of individuals in South Africa, as well as global trends. As a quantitative data collection method in this mixed method study, 55 teachers (of which 26 responded) from two schools, were asked to complete a questionnaire on the effectiveness of teacher in-service development programmes towards the holistic development of learners. Qualitative data collection methods entailed interviewing a principal of one of the schools; a social worker from the area; as well as a district officer from the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). In addition, relevant DoE policies were reviewed. Findings reflect that teachers at impoverished schools are confronted with a range of challenges presented by learners in the classrooms. The findings also indicate that even though DoE policies reflect a commitment to teacher development, the in-service programmes offered to teachers mostly do not reflect the needs of teachers for the holistic development of learners. In instances where inservice programmes do assist with the holistic development of learners, findings indicate that the implementation thereof is challenging due to the high teacher: learner ratio and limited resources. Thus, recommendations include the periodic monitoring and review of long-term DoE teacher development initiatives whilst short term measures incorporate giving attention to impediments like lack of parental support and behavioural challenge. Long term measures, which are strongly recommended, encompass systemic change that facilitates the working together of a number of governmental departments. In so doing, educational reform takes on a society wide form, as it is evident that on its own it cannot abate poverty and the related effects. Thus, the DoE’s vision of education for social transformation towards redress and equity, as well as economic growth for individuals and South Africa is more plausible. These recommendations create a vital space for future research.

Since one of the most important functions of a state teachers college is the proper placement of its graduates in teaching positions, this study was made to determine whether or not this function is being satisfactorily performed by the Placement Office of the North Texas State Teachers College. This study contains four chapters. The first chapter contains the introduction, a brief history of the Placement Office of the North Texas State Teachers College, its organization, functions it performs, its administrative policies, and some of the general practices followed. The first chapter is concluded with facts about the cost of placements made through the Placement Office, and the demands made by schools upon the Placement Office, as indicated by the calls received in the Office for teachers. Chapter two is a presentation of the data secured from questionnaires to five hundred registrants in the North Texas State Teachers College Placement Office, and from sixty superintendents of schools in Texas. Chapter three presents a comparison of of the organization, practices, administrative policies, functions, and office forms of the North Texas State Teachers College Placement Office with these same items in sixty-two other Institutional Placement Offices. Chapter four consists of the findings, and conclusions, and the recommendations made.

The high failure rate in the learning areas Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy is of great concern to educators. In-service training courses for educators in Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy were presented with the aim to enhance the application of didactics in the classroom. The problems concerning the application (impact) could possibly be attributed to the components, elements and presentation of the in-service training course. In an attempt to identify the relevant components and elements, quasi-experimental positivist and interpretive research was conducted. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The question arising is: Could improved impact in the classroom be achieved 1. if the in-service training facilitators received better training, and 2. by incorporating change of attitude, the treatment of the full subject content and the principles of learning structures and co-operative learning into the in-service-training? Educators are still experiencing problems with the transfer of the subject content to the learners. / Early Childhood Education and Development / M. Ed. (Kurrikulumstudies)

The high failure rate in the learning areas Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy is of great concern to educators. In-service training courses for educators in Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy were presented with the aim to enhance the application of didactics in the classroom. The problems concerning the application (impact) could possibly be attributed to the components, elements and presentation of the in-service training course. In an attempt to identify the relevant components and elements, quasi-experimental positivist and interpretive research was conducted. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The question arising is: Could improved impact in the classroom be achieved 1. if the in-service training facilitators received better training, and 2. by incorporating change of attitude, the treatment of the full subject content and the principles of learning structures and co-operative learning into the in-service-training? Educators are still experiencing problems with the transfer of the subject content to the learners. / Early Childhood Education and Development / M. Ed. (Kurrikulumstudies)