The impact of graduate training on teachers and schools - two case studies: Graduate teachers' perceptions

Abstract

The main goal of this study is to research the impact of enrolment in Graduate Programmes (GPs) on a set of Basic Education2 and High School3 teachers in Portugal. We seek to understand whether teachers consider this training as an added value, and the extent to which this is reflected in the improvement of their professional performance, in the schools, and in their students' learning. Preliminary research results show, among other aspects, that the reasons why teachers enrol in GPs are associated mainly with personal fulfilment issues. Moreover, despite the fact that both teachers and school leaders recognize the importance of GPs, they acknowledge that there are still few effects.