Teacher education: student teachers’ ethics-related experiences from their placements in Uganda

Abstract

Practical experience and first-hand insight into the school systems of other countries enables student teachers to cultivate global understanding. Teacher education programme in Sweden has four placements. Student teachers are encouraged to complete one of these abroad. The aim with this study is to examine student teachers’ experiences of teaching primary school pupils in Uganda. The study underpins by the concepts of ethical literacy, the other and action readiness. Student teachers’ reflections on their experiences deal with the emotions that are aroused in their process work of becoming a teacher. The results show that the experiences from teaching in a postcolonial school system were overwhelming for the student teachers involved. The study raises concerns about the incentives to develop future teacher qualities versus arranging internships abroad to develop students’ personal growth.