Primary school teachers’ preferences on the implementation of continuing professional development programmes in Malawi

Type Journal Article - Anthropologist
Title Primary school teachers’ preferences on the implementation of continuing professional development programmes in Malawi
Author(s)
Volume 17
Issue 2
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2014
Page numbers 607-616
URL http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/T-Anth/Anth-17-0-000-14-Web/Anth-17-2-000-14-Abst-PDF/T-ANT​H-17-2-607-14-782-Selemni-Meke-E/T-ANTH-17-2-607-14-782-Selemni-Meke-E-Tx[32].pmd.pdf
Abstract
The study is an analysis of views of Primary School teachers in Zomba Rural Education District in
Malawi on their preferences as regards the implementation of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
programmes. The concern of the study was that despite the Government of Malawi putting in place structures to
facilitate the implementation of Continuing Professional Development for primary school teachers, teachers
have not improved their classroom practices. This study used a mixed method design that collected both quantitative
and qualitative data through questionnaires, focus group discussions and interviews. In total, 798 teachers, representing
47% of teachers in the district, responded to the questionnaire. The researchers conducted 34 focus group discussions
with teachers from various schools and held interviews with 34 head teachers. The study focussed on aspects of
CPD implementation such as mode, venue, duration, time of the year, organization, form of recognition, and
nature of the CPD programmes. Quantitative data were analysed using a software package known as Statistical
Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) while the analysis of the qualitative data involved clustering common themes
and writing stories and ranking the responses. The results show a gap between preferences of teachers and the way
CPD programmes are implemented in the district. This calls for collaboration between CPD programme organizers
and teachers.

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