Mentor Teachers’ Opinions for Sustainable Teacher Education: The Case of Northern Cyprus

Özcan Palavan, Nurdan Ozrecberoglu Kirikkaleli and Ahmet Güneyli ()
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Özcan Palavan: Education Faculty, European University of Lefke, Mersin 99010, Turkey
Nurdan Ozrecberoglu Kirikkaleli: Education Faculty, European University of Lefke, Mersin 99010, Turkey
Ahmet Güneyli: Education Faculty, European University of Lefke, Mersin 99010, Turkey

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-29

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the views of mentor teachers on sustainable teacher education in Northern Cyprus. The Teaching Practice course (internship) was taken as the basis, and the views of mentor teachers on the meaning, difficulties, responsibilities, and feedback process of teaching practices were examined. Data were collected through open-ended interviews with 50 classroom teachers using the qualitative research approach phenomenological model. When the findings are examined, it is revealed that mentor teachers see internship as very important in terms of applying theoretical knowledge, gaining practical experience, and developing professional identity. Difficulties include classroom management difficulties, problems with students, inadequate preparation, and communication problems. Mentor teachers emphasize that their roles of providing guidance, feedback, and support are important. It was stated that preparation, time management, and effective communication are among the responsibilities of candidate teachers. The study emphasized the importance of mentoring in teaching practices in the context of effective communication and providing constructive feedback. Recommendations include improved internship program design focusing on classroom management, communication skills, and material preparation. Additionally, fostering a supportive learning environment and providing professional development opportunities for both mentors and student teachers are essential. The study contributes to understanding the complexities of teacher education and the critical role of effective mentoring in shaping future educators. Evaluating the findings of this study in the context of sustainable teacher education highlights how mentors’ role model practices, ongoing support for pre-service teachers, and reinforcement of effective teaching strategies can contribute to the sustainability of pre-service teacher education.

Keywords: sustainable teacher education; candidate teachers; mentor teachers; internship; North Cyprus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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