Should universities train teachers for employability or for effectiveness?

In principle, the learning sought by universities is universal; that sought by employers of their graduates is contextual. This study illustrates this contradiction in Chile. The three participating universities differ in the socio-economic level of those admitted to teacher training. Teachers for schools in lower-income areas hired from less selective universities are seen by employers as having more skills in classroom management. Schools that enroll middle and upper-income students, on the other hand, hire teachers strong in academic knowledge from the most selective university. This reliance on employability as an indicator of quality of training sharpens social and economic inequalities.