Teacher Professional

Development
ESEB 3051
An introduction
Teacher professional development (TPD) is an essential issue for any educational policy
aimed at the improvement of the quality and effectiveness of teaching. The key element
of TPD is teacher learning
learning how to learn, and
transforming knowledge into practice for the benefit of students.
Why PTD is important?
Teachers play a vital role in educating a nations children and shaping the pupils morals,
attitudes, and behavior.
Therefore, it is important that teachers be prepared professionally so as to be able to
effectively do their job.
This can be achieved through the process of professional development, which is centrally
important in maintaining and enhancing the quality of teaching and learning in schools
and to the pursuit of improvements in teaching and learning.
What PTD is all about?
According to Glatthorn (1995) Teachers professional development refers to the
professional growth of teachers through gaining increased experience and examining his
or her teaching systematically.
Learning how to teach effectively and how to become an excellent teacher requires an
ongoing, long term process.
Villegas-Reimers (2003) Through the development process, teachers also embrace
certain values, attitudes, and commitments.
What is the meaning of professional?
Definition 1: A person who has the type of job that needs a high level of education and
training.
Definition 2: relating to, suitable for, or engaged in as a profession. Engaging in an activity
for gain or as a means of livelihood. Extremely competent in a job, etc. Produced with
competence or skill. Undertaken or performed for gain or by people who are paid.

The Teacher Professional Development
Day (1999) and Ganser (2000) explain that professional development can be
implemented through formal or informal approaches.
The formal approach, according to Ganser (2000) can be seen in activities such as
workshop attendance, professional meetings and mentoring, while the informal approach
can be achieved through, for example, reading professional publications.
Teachers Professional Development in
Malaysia
Teachers professional development in Malaysia can be pre-service or in-service (Ministry
of Education, 2008).
Pre-service program are designed for student teachers for both primary and secondary
schools. The programs run across all universities and all teacher education institutions. All
students teachers are required to take a compulsory course in Technology in Teaching
and Learning and a supplementary course related to computer-aided teaching, which
aims to enhance their proficiency in utilizing technology in their practice.

Teachers Professional Development in
Malaysia
The second program under the agenda of teachers professional development is in-
service courses training.
The main objectives behind this kind of PD are to enhance teachers professional skills and
competencies in their main areas and to update them with current developments and
new practices in the education sector.
All teachers in Malaysia are involved in this professional development.