The Effects of Social, Economic and Religious Values on the Attitudes of Female Student Teachers Towards the TeachingProfession at Teacher Preparation Institutes in the State of Kuwait

Abstract

This study explored the effects of social, economic and religious values in shaping the attitudes toward teaching as a profession of female student teachers at teacher preparation institutes in Kuwait. The study focused on social status, academic major/specialization, study location, residence, governorate, and academic level to understand the extent to which these demographic factors have shaped students’ attitudes toward the teaching profession. Data analysis of a random sample of 730 female student teachers enrolled at the College of Basic Education in Kuwait resulted in interesting findings, mainly that religious values had the most robust effect in promoting highly positive attitudes towards teaching. These were closely followed by economic values, with social values which came third. While students from the governorate of Jahra ranked first in falling under the effects of social and religious values which shaped their attitudes towards teaching, social, economic and religious values had more of a positive effect in shaping the attitudes toward teaching of married rather than unmarried female student teachers,. In sum, social values had a positive overall effect in shaping the attitudes of female student teachers at the College of Basic Education toward the teaching profession.