ABSTRACT
In the West teacher training has been characterized by several common features most of which, until not long ago, could be found in much of Europe and North America. These were:
1 a distinction between elementary and secondary training; indeed training for preschool education might constitute a third route;
2 the existence of both concurrent and consecutive models; 3 a division, sometimes to be found, according to gender, separating training
facilities for men and women; 4 an involvement of the Church in teacher training, given that in many
countries church-maintained schools are part of the national system with provision for the teaching of religion;
5 the relative neglect, until recently, of a practical-professional element in the preparation received by future secondary teachers;
6 the existence of an element of nation-state patriotism particularly in much of elementary teacher training and reflected in the training curriculum;
7 a competitive element in the selection of candidates who, once they qualify, achieve the status of civil servant or equivalent.
