Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate Practicum Actors‟ Conceptions and Practices in
Implementing Primary Teacher Education Practicum in Amhara Region Colleges of Teacher
Education, Ethiopia. To this end, a convergent (concurrent) parallel design was employed.
Quantitative data were collected using a close-ended questionnaire from randomly selected 799 (290
prospective teachers, 257 teacher educators from four colleges of teacher educations (CTEs) and 252
placement school teachers working with these Colleges of Teacher Education. The qualitative data
was simultaneously collected from 60 participants (36 for interviewes and 24 for FGDs) selected
using purposeful sampling. Classroom observations and document analysis were also soures of
qualitative data.The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive as well as inferential statistics
such as one sample t-test, independent sample t-test and one way ANOVA while qualitative data
were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that the overall understanding of the
three practicum actors was significantly lower than the expected level with varying level: poor (for
prospective teachers and placement school teachers),but slightly higher average (for teacher
educators).Their understanding was not in line with the reflective practitioner model of teacher
education rather it was based on the tradition alapplied model. Actors‟ understanding (except for
TEDs to some extent) was either in line with the traditional model or far from conceptualizing
knowledge, learning or teaching in line with the reflective practitioner model. It was found that
knowledge was considered as readymade to be transmitted to learner, while learning was understood
as receiving that readymade knowledge. Moreover, teaching was considered as a process of
transmitting knowledge. On the other hand, despite differences among each actor‟s level of
practices, the practice of the three actors (prospective teachers, placement school teachers and
teacher educators) was found to be much lower than the expected level.The support of placement
school teachers and teacher educators was generally low across all phases of practicum, the practices
of prospective teachers was also found to be much lower in all phases. When the researcher
compared PTs‟ practices across phases, PTs‟ practices in the fourth phase was relatively better,
followed by the third phase and the first phase respectively. The second phase with much of its
activities unattempted was the least practiced level of PTs‟ practice. Lack of interest and
commitment among PAs, poor academic background of PTs, lack of awereness, and inadequate
support from PSTs and TEDs, inadequate time, weak partnership between CTEs, and hosting
schools and unfavorable conditions for PTs (such as lack of guidance and support from PSTs and
TEDs, difficulty to communicate with PSTs and TEDs, absence of effective support from College of
Teachers‟Educations and hosting schools, in effective orientations of CTEs) were identified as major
challenges affecting the practices of practicum.These findings implied that there is a strong need to
re-consider the teacher education practicum program structure in general and its main actors‟
conceptions ( level of understanding of reflective practicum), and their practicum implementation
process in particular to improve primary teacher education practicum practices in Amhara Region
colleges of teacher Educatoin