Evaluation of Community Partnership in Teacher Preparation Programs at the Faculties of Education, Al-Azhar University from the Viewpoint of Faculty Members

The current study aimed at exploring the level of community partnership at the faculties of education, Al-AzharUniversity, from the viewpoint of the faculty members, and investigating differences in the level of community partnership according to the geographic location, scientific rank and academic specialization. The participants, totaling 156, were members of the faculties of education for boys in Cairo, and Tafna Al-Ashraf. The current researchers designed and administrated a scale for evaluating the community partnership in teacher preparation programs. Data were analyzed via SPSS v22 and the results revealed that the community partnership in teacher preparation programs was limited. In addition, there were statistically significant differences in evaluating the sub-dimensions of the community partnership scale in teacher preparation programs (Practical training for student teachers, parents, and media institutions) in favor of the faculty of education for boys in Cairo. However, there were no statistically significant differences in evaluating the rest sub-dimensions of the scale according to the geographic location. Besides, there were no statistically significant differences in evaluating the community partnership in teacher preparation programs according to the scientific rank. Also, there were statistically significant differences in evaluating the sub-dimensions of the community partnership scale (practical training for the student teacher- buildings and constructions - laboratory equipment and educational aids), according to the specific departments specialization. However, there were no statistically significant differences in evaluating the rest sub-dimensions of the scale according to the academic specialization.