IS TEACHING REALLY A GLOBAL PROFESSION

Abstract

If we compare teacher education (in Europe) of the late 1980s and recently, we can say that teacher education is no longer isolated. It is part of a higher education and has achieved more comparable level with all three cycles of study offered to teachers (undergraduate, MA and Doctoral studies) with opportunities for professional development and some mobility. There are some global concerns within the profession as well, such as competitiveness and attractiveness of the profession, employability, salary etc. But teaching in almost all countries is as a rule a nationally regulated profession.
Teacher education and the teaching profession in Macedonia are a matter of constant concern among the general public due to the number of affected parties (students, parents, teachers, local authorities etc.). Huge number of changes in the legal provisions of the education system were introduced lately which were not open for a public discussion neither with experts nor with the general public. Thus, the changes have had repercussions on the teaching profession as well as the teachers' education and training. Instead of improving basic and transversal skills, these teaching related reforms might have many adverse side effects in the education as a whole. Therefore, there is a need for the changes to be reconsidered and discussed with the teachers as a matter of urgency.
This paper explores different questions and concerns about whether teaching is truly a global profession and how mobile Macedonian teachers can be on a global level.