Teacher education policy

The process by which teachers are educated is the subject of political discussion in many
countries, reflecting both the value attached by societies and cultures to the preparation
of young people for life, and the fact that education systems consume significant financial
resources (of which teacher salaries is often the largest single element).
However, the degree of political control over Teacher Education varies. Where TE is entirely
in the hands of universities, the state may have no direct control whatever over what or how
new teachers are taught. In other systems, TE may be the subject of detailed prescription
(e.g. the state may specify the skills that all teachers must possess, or it may specify the
content of TE courses).
In many states, the process of acquiring the relevant knowledge and skills to be a teacher
(qualification) is separate from the process of acquiring the official permission to teach
in public schools (registration, or licensing).
Policy cooperation in the European Union has led to a broad description of the kinds of
attributes that teachers in EU Member States should possess: the [Common European Principle
for Teacher Competences and Qualifications