ASSESSMENT OF TYPE AND FREQUENCY OF TEACHERS IN-SERVICE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES (PDPs) IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated teachers’ in-service Professional Development Programmes (PDPs) and identified the types and frequency of teacher PDP in Secondary Schools in Bayelsa State. Descriptive survey design was employed for the study. The population comprised teachers and principals in public secondary schools, and heads of educational services departments of the Senior Secondary Schools Board, Zonal Inspectors of Education and the Head, Personnel Department of the State Ministry of Education in Bayelsa State. The sample size consisted of 393 respondents. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted. Four out of the eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Bayelsa State were selected using convenience sampling technique. Twenty-four (24) out of the 85 senior secondary schools in the four LGAs were selected using simple random sampling technique. Three hundred and sixty teachers (15 teachers each were selected using simple random sampling technique), while 24 principals, and nine heads of departments (one from educational services department, seven zonal inspectors of education and the Head of personnel department in the State Ministry of Education) were selected using purposive sampling technique based on their years of experience and role in teacher supervision. Questionnaire tagged “Type and Frequency of Teachers’ Professional Development Programmes (TFTPDP) was use to illicit information on the types and frequency of PDPs. Data collected were analyzed using simple percentages. The results showed that teachers in secondary schools in Bayelsa State attended various types of in-service PDPs such as workshops, conferences and seminars, qualification programmes and participated in observation visits to schools, mentoring/coaching, association with professional bodies and informal dialogues with colleagues. The results also showed that PDPs were not frequently organized for teachers The study concluded that teachers’ in secondary schools in Bayelsa State participated in various types of in-service PDPs, however, they were not frequent organized for teachers to benefit maximally.