What does a biology teacher need to know? This is something that has been discussed and processed at a number of seminars that BIG has arranged since last spring. The starting point is how to interpret the prerequisites for Supplementary Pedagogical Education (KPU) for future biology teachers.

In terms of subject knowledge, the requirements for eligibility for KPU are the same as for becoming a qualified teacher, i.e., 90 credits of biology for teaching in upper secondary school and 120 credits for teaching in upper secondary school, provided that you have biology as subject 1. But what should be included in these 90 or 120 credits? This is what has been discussed in detail at the seminars, where both active biology teachers, directors of education and administrators at the Swedish National Agency for Education as well as biologists and science didactics from Stockholm University have participated. The last seminar was held at the end of April and resulted in a joint proposal on how the eligibility requirements should be formulated (the proposal is available in its entirety at the end of this article).

Thus, the first stage of the project is completed. The next step is to investigate whether other higher education institutions in the country can support it. Today, as many as nineteen Swedish higher education institutions offer KPU for future biology teachers, and at present the interpretations of the eligibility requirements differs a lot between institutions. The purpose of the project is to reach a national consensus on the issue and BIG's proposal has therefore been sent out to the other universities concerned. It will be exciting to hear what they think!

Shortened KPU

In addition to the eligibility requirements, some other things were also discussed at the April seminar, especially the shortened version of KPU which starts this autumn. Last winter, the government decided to introduce a new and shorter KPU of only 75 or 60 credits (the current KPU comprises 90 credits). The purpose is, of course, to do something about the shortage of teachers and quickly get more trained teachers. The new KPU education must be based on a general degree or vocational degree of 180 credits from a university or college and lead to a degree for teaching in primary school (after KPU 75 credits) or a degree for secondary school (after KPU 60 credits). The content shall include subject studies and didactic studies within the subject, core courses and teaching placement.

The initiative is described as a pilot project and will, despite strong criticism, start at ten higher education institutions next academic year. An shortened KPU with a focus on secondary school teachers in biology will not be available at Stockholm University but at Halmstad University, University West and the universities of Linköping and Malmö. Stockholm will, however, have a shortened KPU that leads to a primary school teacher degree in Mathematics, Natural sciences and Technology.

Continued seminars about the school

The seminar in April ended with a discussion about how we should in the future design the contacts between BIG, the National Agency for Education and active biology teachers. Everyone agreed that last year's seminars have been valuable and should continue. There is so much besides KPU that needs to be discussed, such as curricula and syllabi and teachers' competence development. Therefore, there will be a new meeting this fall and this time hopefully at a school. Feel free to suggest topics to discuss!

Proposal regarding eligibility requirements in biology for KPU

For the eligibility requirements of 90 credits and 120 credits, basic knowledge of at least 60 credits must be required, of which 5 credits of floristics and faunistics, 5 credits of ecology, 10 credits of physiology including human physiology, 10 credits of biodiversity and evolution and 10 credits of cell and molecular biology including genetics, and specialization of at least 30 credits where Independent work in biology or equivalent must be included for those who have biology as a subject 1.

For the eligibility requirements of 45 credits and 60 credits, basic knowledge of at least 5 credits of floristics and faunistics, 5 credits of ecology, 10 credits of physiology including human physiology, 10 credits of biodiversity and evolution and 10 credits of cell and molecular biology including genetics must be required.

The purpose of the proposed eligibility requirements is to ensure that all future biology teachers have a breadth in the subject and that those who have biology as subject 1 also have some training in scientific working methods in the subject.

Traffic sign by a school. Photo: Margareta Ohné.