SURVEY OF COMPETENCIES OF STUDENTS OF THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION, CHARLES UNIVERSITY, IN THE AREA OF CHILD PROTECTION

The technological development in the 20th and 21st centuries has not only improved the standard of living but also brought new ways of child endangerment. Therefore, new measures will be necessary on all levels of society; these will have to be implemented through quality interdisciplinary cooperation. This led the authors of the paper to the basic idea of the entire research; i.e. in order to achieve success in the area of child protection, regardless of the type of prevention, it is necessary to start with the preparation of professionals who will be part of the interdisciplinary team preferably already during their pregraduate studies. Firstly (presently) the authors focused on students of their own institution (Faculty of Education, Charles University), i.e. future teachers. The long-term study (2017-2021) aims to find out what future teachers know about the issue at hand and possibilities of cooperation with other members of interdisciplinary teams, especially social workers within the system of social and legal child protection. The research sample presently consists of 300 last-grade students of the Faculty of Education, Charles University (future teachers in kindergartens, elementary and secondary schools). Interim results of the qualitative research highlight insufficient competencies, e.g. 34% of respondents failed to name 3 specific situations requiring cooperation between a teacher (school) and a social worker. In a specific scenario 48% of students failed to explain competencies and possibilities of involving a teacher (school) in the implementation of the so-called individual plan of child protection. The authors' hypothesis that students need to be prepared for the cooperation in the area of child protection (theoretically but mainly practically) already during their pregraduate studies is being confirmed. A possible solution would be for example videoconferencing or courses for future teachers as well as students of other faculties (study programmes). The courses should focus mainly on practical training.