SHAPING MINDS: SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVES ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

n modern era, it has been realized that skillful teaching faculty play a vital role for the completion of teaching-learning process. To achieve this objective it is necessary to focus on the teaching training for professional growth of in-service teachingstaff. The professional development of teachers has emerged as a cornerstone in the pursuit of educational quality and reform across the globe. In Pakistan, where government schools constitute a major segment of the national education system, the role of well-trained and professionally developed teachers is particularly crucial in addressing the challenges of quality education, equity, and inclusivity. Among the diverse cadre of educators, science and arts teachers serve as fundamental pillars for both cognitive and cultural development of students. However, disparities in their professional development experiences may lead to uneven educational outcomes. The major objective of this study is to examine the perception of secondary school teachers regarding professional development. The secondary school teachers from Gujranwala were the population of this study while 337 (Science= 159, Arts= 178) respondents were selected as sample through simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the primary data from respondents by applying survey method. The findings indicated a significant difference between science and arts teachers about the factors pedagogical trainingand usageof digital tools and technology while there was not found a significant difference but means difference was indicated in curriculum content mastery, classroom management and inclusive education and communication and soft skills. Significantly, this study will prove as stepping stone to boost the learning environment by adopting innovative professional techniques.