Mzuzu University student-teachers experiences: a case study

Abstract

This paper is an investigation of the practicum experiences of a group of student-teachers at Mzuzu University. Using document analysis and informal ethnographic interviews, five main themes emerged from student-teachers experiences; 1) absence of a collaborative agree-upon memorandum of understanding between cooperating teachers and student-teachers; 2) questionable ethics and lack of professionalism on the part of several cooperating teachers; 3) cooperating teachers working conditions; 4) issues of trust and cooperating teachers' perceptions of student-teachers as relief teachers rather than as trainees and; 5) lack of supervision and in-service training for cooperating teachers. The authors derive a variety of interpretations from the findings and recommend that the practicum be restructured in pre-practicum practicum and post practicum.