PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

may repeat a grade. However, regular education is unable to meet the needs of somestudents who need special assistance temporarily or permanently. Special educationschools provide these children with adapted education, training, care, and treatment.Approximately 3.5% of children in Flemish elementary education attend special education.This may be due to a physical or mental handicap, serious behavioral or emotionalproblems, or because of grave learning disabilities.Teachers and Teacher EducationTeacher Education and TrainingIn recent policy declarations, the effectiveness and assessment of teachers has beengiven great importance. The goal of one such decree was the integration of all types ofteaching courses into one coherent framework and the implementation of importantchanges in the area of in-service training. 4 In the decree, minimum requirements havebeen incorporated in the form of teacher profiles. These profiles contain a minimumof common competencies for all teachers regarding knowledge, skills, and attitudes, aswell as specific competencies that are connected with a specified level of education. Theprofessional attitudes incorporated into the professional profile have a bearing on alltypes of functions. They affect decision-making ability to form relationships, eagerness tolearn, ability to organize, desire for teamwork, sense of responsibility, creativity, flexibility,and the ability to use language appropriately and correctly. The professional profiles aredeveloped by the Department for Educational Development.Initial teacher training includes a 3-year course for teachers of preprimary, primary,or secondary school, in which there is a distinction between teacher-training coursesand their academic (i.e., subject area) courses. In addition, continuing teacher-trainingcourses allow teachers to acquire the necessary qualifications for a particular aspect ofthe teacher’s profile.There is no official training that is specific to teaching reading; it is part of the generaltraining of the primary school teacher. Some private organizations, lead by volunteersand professionals, have initiatives concerning study and support about special readingissues, such as dyslexia. These often involve lectures, conferences, and symposia.PIRLS 2006 EncyclopediaTeacher In-service EducationTeacher in-service education plays an important role in giving teachers the opportunityto work further towards a professional profile in their careers.The aforementioned decree regarding teacher training and in-service trainingintroduced a completely new system of further training initiatives. 5 The decreeconsequently states that the organizing authority of the school in which the teacher worksis responsible for supporting all the teachers in their quest for further professionalism. Thistraining may contribute towards the management of the complex interactions betweenteaching staff and students, teachers with one another, students among themselves, orteachers and the outside world. The teachers also receive systematic in-service trainingBelgium, Flemish SystemTIMSS & PIRLSInternational Study CenterLynch School of Education, Boston College 39