【正文】 ’ motivations for pursuing a primary teaching career. The following research question guided the study: What are the entrants’ motivations for choosing teaching as their career? Study context: Lautoka Teachers’ College (LTC) was established in 1977 as the second government owned primary teacher education institution. Specifically this institution’s role was to provide inservice training for untrained teachers and refresher courses for practising teachers. However, the closure of Nasinu Teachers College in 1981 forced LTC to take over responsibility of preservice training of primary teachers. It now remains the only government primary teacher education institution in Fiji. Research methods The datagathering method involved a questionnaire survey. The twopart survey determined teachers’ reasons for joining the teaching profession. This was used with student teachers that were recently admitted into the preservice teacher education program. A survey was considered an effective means of gathering data from a large sample (Gay, 1992). Rank STATEMENTS I would like to be a teacher because: 1 I think teaching has a valuable role to play in society 2 I believe teachers have a high status in our society 3 I like children 4 As a teacher there are opportunities to work closely with the munity 5 I like sharing information with others 6 Teachers can take up leadership roles in the munity 7 Teaching is a learned profession 8 My parents would like me to be a teacher 9 I can not think of anything else to do 10 I think it will be a satisfying job 11 The job of a teacher is very secure 12 The profession is well paid 13 I like to have authority 14 The working day is short 15 I like the idea of long holidays 16 My mother/father/brother/sister is a teacher The trainees were asked to list and ment on the two reasons from the list which influenced them the most to join primary teacher training. A number of ments emerged. The ten most frequent responses in descending order were (1) fondness for children, (2) parents, peer or teacher influence, (3) teaching seen as a noble profession, (4) childhood ambition, (5) security of the job, (6) sharing of information, (7)opportunity to help the munity, (8) long holidays, (9) had no other opportunity, (10) better status. Some examples of responses by the trainees, which provide evidence related to the above influences, were selected and are presented below. Comments relating to the liking for children included: I like children…I simply adore being with kids. if you take a moment to reflect you will find that the kids place their 6 hours of living in your hands. And if we are able to properly mould them at a tender age, they bee something in future. Children themselves have a lot to teach us as we do for them. I love children. I have two small sisters at home and I do really love them. Seeing children growing up is very interesting. I love socializing with children and being a teacher is one way of being with them. Some of the ments about ‘parents, peer or teacher influence’ on selecting teaching as a career are given below: My parents wanted me to bee a teacher as they saw the status my grandparents hold as teachers in society. My parents have influenced my career. Since my dad was a schoolteacher it gave me a kind of strength and motivation that I should follow the footsteps of my dad. My mother who strongly urged me to take up this job since it is secure and carries a lot of weigh