Evaluation of the Academy Class Program in Bedouin schools in the Negev Desert: Perspectives from student teachers, supervising teachers and principals

תקציר

Israel introduced the Academy Class Program in 2016 to increase the clinical experience of student teachers during training. The program aimed to reduce the ratio of student teachers to supervisor teachers to two to one in the teaching practicum. Bedouin schools in the Negev Desert use this program widely. This study evaluated the program from the perspectives of Bedouin principals, 34 supervising teachers and 60 student teachers. The student teachers completed practicums in elementary sciences and kindergarten. Researchers used questionnaires and interviews. They made quantitative and qualitative comparisons between four established schools and four new schools. They also compared elementary science and kindergarten practicums. All interviewees considered the program beneficial and recommended its use in all teaching practicums. Supervising teachers from established settlements and the science stream reported higher satisfaction and perceived greater benefits than those from new settlements and kindergartens. Student teachers from new settlements expressed more satisfaction with the program than those from established settlements. Student teachers from established schools and the science stream perceived the program to be more beneficial than student teachers from new schools and the kindergarten stream.