Maestros generalistas vs especialistas. Claves y discrepancias en la reforma de la formación inicial de los maestros de primaria

Authors

José A. Serrano SánchezSalto de línea Universidad de Las Palmas.Salto de línea Salto de línea Ángela Lera NavarroSalto de línea Universidad de A Coruña.Salto de línea Salto de línea Onofre Contreras JordánSalto de línea Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha.

Abstract

Generalist vs Specialist Teachers. Keys and Discrepancies in the Reform for Primary Teachers' Initial TrainingSalto de línea Salto de línea This paper analyses and discusses from a critical point of view the reform plan for primary teachers' initial training. In essence, the reform foresees a change in the academic profile of primary teachers, suggesting that all the specialist teacher present-day degrees linked to specific areas (physical education, music, foreign languages, etc) become one only generalist qualification related to that stage (teacher of primary education). Diverse specific studies dealing with the specialist versus generalist debate in primary education have been reviewed and systematized,including the empirical studies performed in the reform process. The discussion is oriented towards the coherence of the reform plan with the diverse empirical studies carried out. It is concluded that the proposal of national reform of the primary teacher degrees disregards the results of the empirical studies on which the decision is based, hence resulting in a contradiction that may cause a rupture between the specialist degree and its professional profile. This stance would move away the reform from its raison d'être, that is to adapt the degrees following the recommendations of the European Commission that, among others, demanded from associate countries a greater effort to conciliate the academic degrees with their respective professional profiles.

Keywords

Degrees, European Higher Education Area (EHEA), Initial teacher training, initial teaching Reform Plan, Speciality, Professional profile.