Abstract

The science of pedagogy involves many specific skills which prospective and serving teachers must understand, practice and habituate. The much talked about fall in the standard of education demands that a more positive attentive attention be given to the teacher education programme in our institutions of learning with a view to improving the professional preparation of teachers in the 21st century. It has, therefore, become imperative that educationists should evaluate and appraise various aspects of “teacher education programme” and suggest ways that will better teachers performance and bring about qualitative education. This paper appraises the student practice teaching as an important component of the “teacher education programme” and posits that if teacher education must meet the challenges of the  21st  century, certain changes must be effected in the area of the duration of the pre-service training generally; the student practice teaching in particular and the method of supervision/evolution.

Key words: Teacher, student, practice teaching, Nigeria.