Going All the Way: Identifying Careerists, Persisters, and Potential Resisters Among Pre-Service Teachers in Luxembourg.

The persisting worldwide teacher shortage presents a critical challenge for the education sector, exacerbated by contemporary societal transformations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, technological advancements, and increasing social inequalities. This paper focuses on the urgent need to identify candidates who are not only qualified but are also likely to commit to long-term teaching careers, thereby ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of educational institutions.

The teacher shortage crisis is multifaceted, stemming from factors such as unattractive working conditions, insufficient salaries, and a lack of professional development opportunities. These challenges deter potential candidates from entering the profession and contribute to high attrition rates among existing educators. Using latent class analysis on the different facets of the “Factors Influencing Teaching Choice” scale on a sample of 1307 candidates for admissions into Luxembourg’s teacher training programme at the University of Luxembourg we attempt to identify the so called, “highly engaged persisters”, “lower engaged desisters” and “classroom engaged careerists”, each profile said to have a distinct likelihood of staying in the teaching profession. Using a combination of motivation and self-efficacy scales, along with important socio-demographic indicators we explore these constructs.

One key aspect of this strategy is the development of predictive models that can identify candidates with the potential for longevity in teaching careers. These models should consider not only academic qualifications and teaching skills but also personal attributes such as motivation, resilience, adaptability, and a passion for lifelong learning. By focusing on identifying and supporting individuals who are committed to teaching as a long-term profession, we can ensure a stable, qualified, and motivated teaching workforce, which is essential for the advancement of education in a rapidly changing world.