Abstract:
In 2009, Government of Pakistan formulated National Professional Standards for
Teachers (NPST), to devise a mechanism for accreditation of teacher education
institutions and programs. The achievement of these NPST is assumed as the reliable
parameter for exploring the effectiveness of any teacher education program.
This study addresses the effectiveness of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) program
offered through annual and semester system at University of Education (UE) Lahore,
focusing on three (3) selected NPST (2009) Pakistan i.e Instructional Planning and
Strategies, Learning Environment and Assessment. The study is of quantitative nature,
which comprised of three (3) phases. The first phase was a content analysis of the
scheme of studies of B.Ed program offered through annual and semester systems. In the
second phase, data was collected through four (4) questionnaires and from 348
prospective teachers (who have completed their course work of teacher education
program) and 60 teachers (teacher educators). Finally, the third phase was carried out
through the observation of 36 graduate teachers (who have already graduated through
annual or semester system and are presently working as teachers in the schools) against
checklist.
The study concluded that except the modes of assessment, there is no difference in
scheme of studies, entry requirements, teaching strategies, medium of instruction and
the duration of B.Ed program offered through annual and semester systems. Moreover,
v
the prospective teachers showed their inclination towards the annual system and rated
it effective for the offering of teacher education program under study. While the
teachers (teacher educators and graduate teachers) considered that semester system is
more effective for offering the teacher education program.
