Reasons for Change in Career to Teaching and Challenges Faced Among the Teacher Trainees in a One-Year Post Graduate Teacher Education Course in Music Education at a Teachers’ Training Institution in Kuala Lumpur

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore reasons behind graduates’ decisions to pursue teaching as a career and challenges experienced in a one year post graduate teacher education course (KPLI) in music education at a teacher training institution in Kuala Lumpur. Specific objectives of this study were to determine the pull and push factors that determine why young Malaysian graduates opt to change their career path to teaching at primary schools and how these young Malaysian graduates from various cultural backgrounds and qualifications view their training and face challenges in a one-year music education course. A total of 20 trainee teachers participated in this study. This study comprises two components. The first component consisted of two focus group discussions to bridge social and cultural differences amongst the participants. As a result of this first phase, trainee teachers with specific characteristics were targeted for a follow-up one-to-one interview phase. Interviews provided more insights into the trainee teachers’ reasons for a career change and challenges experienced in a one- year post graduate teacher education course (KPLI) in music education. The findings are based on the teacher trainees’ narratives which have been transcribed from the focus group discussions and the one-to-one interviews. Different combinations of reasons and challenges emerged from the findings between male and female students, and these reasons and challenges experienced are further illustrated and discussed. The findings of this study would help build further development on questions arising about implications for teacher training in the future and the quality of graduates to lead music education in this nation.