Lusaka Central Zone Teachers' Perspectives on Continuing Professional Development
Josephine Kabila1*, Anolt L. H. Moonga2, Mirriam Sampa Moonga3
Citation : Josephine Kabila, Anolt L.H.Moonga, Mirriam Sampa Moonga, Lusaka Central Zone Teachers' Perspectives on Continuing Professional Development International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education 2018, 5(6) : 15-22
The study investigated Lusaka central zone teachers' perspectives of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).The study was premised on the theoretical framework of Experiential learning and situated cognitive learning characterized by the concepts of experience and reflection. The objectives of the study were to: find out the teachers' knowledge of CPD, establish the support that teachers got from CPD, determine teachers' participation in CPD and establish challenges teachers faced in CPD. The study was a survey design whose population included all the four secondary schools in Lusaka central zone, all the teachers and administrators at the secondary schools and the District Education Standards Officer (DESO). A sample of 20 teachers and 1 administrator from each school and the DESO making a total of 84 respondents was selected purposively. Interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were used to collect data from administrators and teachers respectively. Data was analysed inductively by recording the responses from the (FDGs) and interviews into common themes. The findings of the study reviewed that teachers in Lusaka Central Zone (LCZ) had knowledge of CDP and received some support in their teaching through CPD. Teachers participated as participants and facilitators. However, not all teachers participated in CPD. The challenges teachers faced in CPD included their lack of understanding of the concept and function of CPD, failure by CPD to create time for individual development and meet the teachers' needs, lack of variety in content and presentation of CPD materials and unfavorable meeting times and environments for CPD. The study concluded that teachers in LCZ were aware of CPD but had not embraced it as a viable form of in-service training because it did not lead to a credible qualification. The study recommended that; CPD would flourish in LCZ when Education management at both provincial and district levels sensitize the teachers on the value of CPD; CPD should be given a utilitarian value, like making it a requirement for teachers' promotions and or merit increment in their salaries and CPD should be done when pupils are not in class to avoid losing class time. The study was significant in that its findings will provide insights to the teachers and policy makers on CPD in order to understand, appreciate and support its activities.