Research Development Policy and Its Practice in Mexican Teacher Training Schools

In Mexico, basic education teachers are trained in places named Normal Schools; in 1984 these Mexican Teachers Training Schools were ranked like Higher Education Institution, implying that, besides teaching, they must carry out research and dissemination. Nowadays, research is still in development and in some cases incipient. The objective of this article is: to understand why research is not yet consolidated in Mexican Teachers Training Schools. We used a qualitative approach, interviewing school board members, surveys to teacher educators, focus groups and participant observation. Teacher educators are motivated to research, but there is a lack of adequate working conditions to conduct it, teaching continues being their main activity.