Contemporary teacher and core competences for lifelong learning

The paper shows the results from testing the opinion of students in fourth year at the Pedagogical Faculty, future teachers, preschool teachers, for the important indicators by which their competence for the performance of teaching, assessment of the teachers and their own work is evaluated, their competence for further lifelong learning, their future professional development. The eight key competencies necessary for lifelong learning are outlined and explained, and the results of testing on a sample survey of 286 respondents are presented, students of pedagogical faculties in the Republic of Macedonia. The factor analysis and procedure for concretization of the numerous indicators is used to determine the competence of contemporary teacher, with prominence are accentuated: met cognitive skills, self-esteem, problem solving, and application of modern ICT, information, mathematical and language literacy, and ability of empirical research. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.