Prospects and Pitfalls of Continuous Professional Development Programmes in the Eastern Cape Department of Education

Description

Page: 511-520

Beauty Zindi (School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa)

This study explores the prospects and pitfalls of Continuous Professional Teacher Development programmes within the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE). The study used a qualitative approach where data was collected from fifteen (15) participants using interviews. The study findings established the following prospects of CPTD programmes: improved pedagogical skills, professional growth, increased teacher motivation, and the creation of a collaborative learning environment. However, several challenges impede their successful implementation of CPTD programmes such as inadequate funding, limited follow- ups, logistical issues, inconsistent quality, resistance to change, and implementation challenges. The study concludes with recommendations for enhanced resource allocation and the incorporation of localized strategies to address the specific needs of teachers in the Eastern Cape province ultimately aiming to optimize the impact of professional development programmes on educational quality and teacher performance.