Managing continuing professional development of teachers for curriculum change implementation

Abstract

The current rapid school curriculum reform initiatives in the South African education system require teachers to develop continuously in order to understand and implement them effectively. Conversely, most teachers’ continuing professional development (CPD) activities based on curriculum change implementation are inadequate to produce their intended results. Teachers continue grappling with limited subject content knowledge, how to teach and assess in the outcomes-based way, and how to evaluate and select high quality textbooks. Extant studies suggest that most CPD approaches used thus far are typically loosely-matched to the teachers’ actual CPD needs, unrelated to classroom realities, and are seldom followed-up. These limitations imply deep-rooted problems and issues concerning how the relevant management structures within the various levels of the Department of Basic Education manage teachers’ CPD for curriculum change implementation. This qualitative case study examines the role of curriculum coordinators and school management teams (SMTs) in managing teachers’ CPD for curriculum change implementation, respectively, at the selected area offices and secondary schools in the North West Province. Through purposive sampling, this study involved the following participants: four curriculum coordinators, eight subject advisors, 24 principals, 24 Heads of Departments and 24 teachers. Empirical data were collected by means of interviews and document analysis. Data analysis followed Tesch’s steps for open coding. The findings suggest that the identified curriculum coordinators and SMTs are ineffective in discharging their role of managing teachers’ CPD for curriculum change implementation. They lack sound understanding of their role, and they also experience a litany of practical impediments. These barriers, inter alia, include limited training for CPD managers, shortage of relevant resources, difficulties of finding a suitable day and time for teachers’ CPD, CPD managers’ work overload and teachers’ change weariness. The implications of these findings on the quality of teachers’ CPD for curriculum change implementation are outlined. Relevant guidelines are developed to address the above challenges. It is anticipated that the findings and recommendations in this study will provide valuable and timely contributions in the fields of teacher development and curriculum change implementation.