Notes on Background of the Conference *
The Education Foundations Department at Chancellor College, University of Malawi is pleased to announce its annual conference for 2016. The theme of the conference, the role of education foundation studies in building sustainable education systems and development, seeks to bring together policy makers, practitioners, academicians and other critical stakeholders in teacher education to consider the role of education foundation studies in teacher education towards sustainable education systems and development. Recent years have seen a decline in the emphasis placed on education foundation studies in teacher education. The conference therefore seeks to provide a forum for dialogue and debate on such issues as: do education foundation studies matter in teacher education? Is there any relationship between education foundation studies and the ‘outcomes’ of teacher preparation? Do education foundation studies impact prospective future teachers’ ability to increase student learning? Does it enhance prospective teachers’ achievement on teacher tests of pedagogical knowledge or contribute to their demonstration of professional performance? Does the study of education foundations make a difference to teachers understanding of issues on diversity and citizenship? How would the teaching of education foundation studies promote the development of quality teachers and a healthy education system for sustainable development? We therefore invite proposals for presentations under the following indicative sub themes. -Inclusive Education- Change Management -Strategic Leadership -Discipline in Schools· Education Quality and Standards · Education technology policy and practice · Education for sustainable development · Education for democratic citizenship · Managing gifted and talented students · Teaching and assessing large classes · Philosophical issues in teacher education and development · The impact of ECDE on student performance · Assessing school improvement and teacher development programs · Character development in school curriculum · Language of Instruction policies in education · Out of school youth and adult education programs · Privatization of education and the right to quality education · Education and society · Mental health and education · Role of research in education development
