Dr. Anteneh Tefera 1), Prof. Mulugeta Atnafu 2), Dr. Kassa Michael 2)
1) Dire Dawa University (Ethiopia)
2) Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia)
https://doi.org/10.53656/nat2021-3.04
Abstract. The general objective of this study was to examine the professional disposition (attitude and self-efficacy) of pre-service teachers hold at the end of teacher education programs in terms of gender and modality. To do this, we used a quantitative research approach. The source of data was 3rd-year mathematics pre-service teachers who have graduated in the 2018/19 academic year. The study used self-reported questionnaires. Thus, 536 (309 male and 227 female) third-year pre-service mathematics teachers from the three sampled institutions (Kotebe metropolitan university, Hawassa college of teacher education, and Arba Minch college of teacher education) and trained under three modalities (generalist, specialist, or linear) have participated. The result showed that the ongoing teacher education program helps them to have a strong attitude and self-efficacy towards mathematics and mathematics teaching without gender difference. However, variations were observed in attitudes and self-efficacy across modalities. In general, it can be concluded that the teacher education program helps pre-service mathematics teachers to develop a strong attitude and self-efficacy towards mathematics and teaching mathematics. Therefore, it is recommended that further qualitative and detailed analysis should be conducted in order to find which part of the education system or educational inputs help pre-service mathematics teachers in colleges of teacher education to develop positive attitude and self-efficacy towards mathematics and teaching mathematics and should be shared to other universities and colleges.
Keywords: attitude; self-efficacy; mathematics; teaching mathematics