A qualitative approach of the impact of the 20.903 Law on the quality of initial teaching training programs at Universidad de Los Lagos

Abstract

The 20.903 Law published in 2016 establishes regulations for teaching degree courses in Chile, both in initial teaching training (ITT) and in the teaching workplace. Thus, the study characterizes the initial impacts and results of Law 20.903 and the norms of the Comisión Nacional de Acreditación (CNA) on the teaching degree courses of Universidad de Los Lagos and analyze the results of its quality levels. The study is a deepening of the CNA research project. It is a case study, in which the qualitative approach was used.  Interviews were applied to managers and majors’ headmasters, as well as focus group sessions to academics and students. It was concluded that the 20.903 Law would reduce the teaching careers deregulation: it would enhance the value of ITT, improve the curriculum and standardize teaching quality. However, participants affirm that it would lead to homogenization in training, and therefore emphasize the need to consider the territorial context in the training process. Besides, the new requirements of this law would result in a greater bureaucratization in the accreditation process of pedagogy careers and their sustainability would be at risk due to the increase in the minimum entrance scores for enrollment.