A comparison of primary generalist preservice teachers' background and confidence in visual arts education across five countries

This study focuses on primary preservice students’ perceptions of their background and confidence in visual arts education. It involved 939 preservice non-specialist primary teachers from Australia, Namibia, South Africa, USA and Ireland. The study identified the students’ perceptions of their background and confidence in relation to visual arts and visual arts education then examined if there was a cross-national difference between students from these countries and their perceptions of their own background and confidence in relation to visual arts. Results indicated that 16% of the students felt they had a good visual arts background and 56% of the sampled students indicated that they felt confident in visual arts education. Significant differences between responses from the different countries were noted.