Certification of Teachers: Tensions in a New Signature Reform

Authors

  • Tone Dyrdal Solbrekke University of Oslo
  • Tomas Englund Örebro Universitet

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7577/pp.668

Abstract

Professional certification or registration is a designation earned by an individual. It is an authorization materialized as a document bearing the signature of a person given the authority to “sign off” professionals. A signed document also signals the “professionalism” of the profession by indicating the capacities that are expected of a professional and the competencies that are required for the successful exercise of an occupation—the desirable components of professional practice. However, the implications and logics of a signing process vary according to different factors, such as status, jurisdiction and societal legitimacy. Drawing on a case from Sweden, this paper investigates and critically discusses the logics of the recent reform of certification of Swedish school teachers. Applying a theoretical distinction between the logics of professional “responsibility” and “accountability,” we indicate embedded consequences for the signing process and teacher professionalism.

 

 

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Published

2014-06-20

How to Cite

Solbrekke, T. D., & Englund, T. (2014). Certification of Teachers: Tensions in a New Signature Reform. Professions and Professionalism, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.7577/pp.668

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