I can report from German schools that the idea of using school assistants is about 50 years old. It also became necessary because large comprehensive schools with well over 1000 pupils were established. Many pupils need social help. Also many primary schools have the problem that children come from different social milieus, in big cities a majority of children with migration background from different countries, who not only need linguistic help, but also have other socialisation norms. There are enough tasks. But the job description of a "school assistant" is not firmly established, is not financially attractive and thus at best an intermediate stage in the vocational training path.

Teaching assistants can be found in many areas. One would have to know more details to answer the question satisfactorily. It has already been widely discussed here that robots should take over this task. So I would like to know more about the task of a teaching assistant: What should he know, what should he be able to do before he is used?

Yes, I agree with Hein. What would the role of teaching assistants be?

I have had experience in the Australian Secondary school system, and the TAs' main focus in the school I taught in was to help manage the students who had learning disabilities, or developmental delays. So I would say they were really helpful, and they would have had to have had some form of training before taking up this role.

i would agree, and in the UK there has been guidance from the Government about it previously. The old(er) guidance is here:

https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/8899/1/intro_training_guidance_tass.pdf

There are also courses for teaching assistants in the UK:

https://www.cityandguilds.com/what-we-offer/learners/career-ideas/how-to-become-a/t/teaching-and-classroom-assistant

Following the answers

Any person who acquires basic qualification and joins in any discipline, there's need of training/ reorientation to hone the skills for better output.

اكيد

Training is not only in education. Talking about education of course in important, thay should be schedule so the people do not lost their tiem in the school.

Could be nice to write a final inform

ingrid

The training of assistents is important only then if you have some.

I agree with Hein Retter when he says it depends on what they are expected to do.

However, I also have to add that the number of students is another important element to take into account. At the school I am working for right now, there are some Teaching assistants in pre-school and I can sya they are really helpful.

Yes, I think that Teaching Assistants need to be trained because they are there to help the student success and the teacher accomplish role of instructor. I did volunteer work at a school for the mentally challenged. I needed to know a certain skill set to help the students. I was very fortunate to be mentored by an

absolutely fabulous teacher. We accomplished more together than with me just as an extra pair of unskilled hands.

Brigid

Definitely yes. In the Czech Reublic, it is enough for a teaching assistant to pass the maturita exam at pedagogical lyceum (to get the qualification). There are only two weeks of teaching practice in the third year and two weeks in the fourth year, which is not enough. At secondary pedagogical schools, they have much more teaching practice, but not always do they want to work as teaching assistants because the job is badly paid...

It is frustrating when financial constraints prevent progress. Either for a student working as a teaching assistant to gain experience or the educational system to have a teaching assistant unable to afford to commit to being a teaching assistant. I was fortunate enough to be able to volunteer my time. What the students and staff gave me back was immeasurable. My mentor taught me how to break a task down, specific communication skills for the students. If a mentor is proficient, formal training is not necessary, but, in 35 years I have never met an instructor or mentor of her caliber. For that reason, if finances allow for teaching assistants, an education program should be mandatory to give the assistants, the instructors and the students the best possible chance to succeed.

Brigid

It is need of the hour.because in this technological era teaching assistants must update their knowledge through training.

Yes..... Its obvious....

Need to recall a saying, "IF YOU COULD READ THIS, THANK YOUR TEACHER (PRIMARY as prime focus)"....

Yes, I agree with Hein Retter .

yes its important because carrier of the children and future of the nation all valuable things are on the shoulder of the primary school teachers

Some training is necessary, how will they know how to handle children and what methods to use when helping, if they are not knowledgeable?

I can report from German schools that the idea of using school assistants is about 50 years old. It also became necessary because large comprehensive schools with well over 1000 pupils were established. Many pupils need social help. Also many primary schools have the problem that children come from different social milieus, in big cities a majority of children with migration background from different countries, who not only need linguistic help, but also have other socialisation norms. There are enough tasks. But the job description of a "school assistant" is not firmly established, is not financially attractive and thus at best an intermediate stage in the vocational training path.

I think

It would be helpful for further discussion if some followers reports their own experiences with school assistants.

Its need of the hour

Now a days Teacher's Training like Orientation Refresher with ethics and values

Dear/Dr.Emir Omer Emre

yes, its necessary because supporting children’s learning, and supporting the main class teacher.

Providing support to children who need additional help with their work.

These are the major duties of the training of primary school Teaching Assistants.

Thank you

Yes, this would be an important position to have formal training. There are many things expected of a teacher throughout the school year, and often are overburden with not only the lessons themselves, but also planning, testing, and remaining knowledgeable about current teachings trends. A trained assistant in the class room will provide the necessary support that a teacher would need, across all grade levels.

yes ..It is must to become for a perspective teacher....and also this training program may extend to engineering and medical college professors......

I agree with Mr.Kumar

yes sure

It could be of a great help to have trained school assistants, but as Hein Retter wrote 'we are without the job description of a school assistant - that's situation in Montenegro. I often see these assistants with children with disabilities, some of them are trying to help these children in reading, writing etc. and it would be important that they are trained for that kind of help. But, missing job description is very big obstacle.

Importance of teaching assistants

Students learn best in a safe, nurturing and happy environment. A teacher needs help in everything that she does inside and outside the classroom to create and maintain this kind of setting. This is particularly so when the number of students she has to handle may seem too big to manage efficiently.

yes,its necessary.