Abstract:
The Purpose of this study was to examine the support received by the student teachers during teaching practice
stage I of the Post Graduate Diploma in Education programme conducted by Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL).
The target population of this study consisted of student teachers registered at Jaffna Regional center of the OUSL
in 2011/2012 academic year. 150 student teachers who completed their teaching practice stage I in the same
academic year participated in the study. Research data were collected by using questionnaire. 53 student teachers
responded for the questionnaire survey. Data were analyzed in percentages. The results revealed that Principals and
Mentors have supported the student teachers to a satisfactory level. They also indicated that the Master teachers
played their roles to some extent but their support provided to the student teachers was not enough. This study
expands our understanding of the support provided by different people to the student teachers during Teaching
Practice stage I.
