Andalusian teacher centres: in the political crossfire

This article analyses the background of teacher centres ( CEPs) in Spain and presents the synthesis of conclusions drawn from the evaluation of such centres and continous education in Andalusia (Spain). ... Three issues are dealt with: (a) the change of government policies concerning the running of teacher centres, from autonomy to control; (b) the changes in the way teachers' continous education and advice strategies are understood; and (c) how teacher commitment to innovation and education reform evolved with time. All this takes place with the framework of political confrontations between the two main parties in Spain: the Socialists (PSOE) - who institutionalized the CEPs and created education reform, and who continue to govern in Andalusia - and the Conservatives (PP) - who are currently in power in central government and who neither supported educational reform nor the teacher centres. In this context, the analysis fo the use of the CEPs as a political weapon in their confrontation is one of the main objectives of the evaluation. (DIPF/Orig.)