EVALUATION OF PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS' OPINIONS OF THEMSELVES AND PRACTICE TEACHERS IN TERMS OF TEACHER PROFICIENCY

The aim of this study is to evaluate the prospective teachers' perceptions of themselves and their practice teachers in terms of general competencies in teaching profession published by the Ministry of National Education in 2017. The study was conducted on 84 students who received pedagogical formation training at Fırat University. The items of the data collection tool consist of the general competencies of the teaching profession determined by the Ministry of National Education; thus, the data collection tool consists of three competency areas and eleven competencies below these areas and sixty-five indicators related to these competencies. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the data collection tool was calculated as .968. As a result of the research, it was determined that the prospective teachers' perceptions of competence towards themselves and their practice teachers were high. It was determined that the prospective teachers' proficiency levels related to their professional knowledge and skills, attitudes and values related to the profession were high. In terms of gender and age variable, there was no significant difference between the perceptions of prospective teachers regarding general competencies of the teaching profession; however, there was a significant difference in terms of being readiness for teaching profession. According to the research, prospective teachers find themselves sufficient in terms of teacher competencies, but they think their pedagogical formation training is insufficient. It is recommended that application trainings, which will allow prospective teachers to test their knowledge and skills, should be given earlier and more intensively. Since 2018, the new teacher training programs implemented in the faculties of education contain some regulations in this regard. However, it is a matter of curiosity to what extent these regulations will be successful and sufficient.