Perceptions of preservice education: A study of specialists in adapted physical education

The purpose of this study was to investigate the link between university preservice education in adapted physical education and job requirements when teaching in special schools. The relationship was tested through the use of a questionnaire. This instrument recorded the degree to which teachers felt specific teaching competencies were important in their teaching and also the degree to which competencies were perceived to have been covered, during university preservice education.; The results indicated that teachers in special schools perceived competencies within the questionnaire to be generally important, but to have been only adequately covered at best and not covered at all in many instances. Significant differences were noted between the perceived degree of importance and coverage of competencies, as a function of the number of courses taken in adapted physical education and special education, the number of years since preservice education and the age of respondents.