(MENAFNEditorial) An education expert from Pearson, the world's largest education company, has called on teachers in the region to use the start of the new year as a time to reflect on their professional development needs.
Amanda Collins, Pearson's Director of Professional Development in the region, says that this is a good time of the year for teachers to evaluate what training will help them progress their careers and make them more effective in the classroom. She also notes the role of professional development when it comes to teachers receiving good outcomes in their mid-year reviews.
Ms Collins says:
"This is a fantastic time for teachers to review their current career situation and look at where they want to be by the end of the academic year. It is also an opportunity for teachers to think about the goals of their learners, and the type of training they can undertake that will best help these learners achieve their learning goals.
"Many education agencies throughout the region are becoming increasingly aware of the critical role ongoing professional development can play in raising teaching standards. Also, in some organisations, mid-year teacher performance reviews now also review the professional development efforts of teachers, making professional development programmes a crucial consideration for educators wanting an excellent outcome in their mid-year review".
According to Ms Collins, professional development and training for educators is one of the best ways a teacher can stay up-to-date with the latest pedagogies, resources and technologies impacting on education, and plays an important role in improving a country's overall teaching standards.
The Saudi Arabian Government, for example, is currently developing a Math and Science Teacher Programme through the Tawteer Company for Educational Services (T4Edu), and the UAE has sought to improve leadership standards in the Emirates' schools through the UAE School Leadership Programme. Both initiatives have focused on building capacity throughout the national teaching profession.
A 2014 UNESCO Report found that the Arab World needed to create 1.6 million teaching positions in 2015 if universal education in the region is to be achieved. This figure jumps to 3.3 million by 2030 if the situation is not quickly and properly addressed.
However, Ms Collins stresses that creating new teaching posts alone is not sufficient to improve the region's educational performance if new and existing teachers do not receive adequate training and access on-going professional development. She says:
"One of the most significant factors impacting a child's educational attainment is the standard of teaching to which that child is exposed. Pearson's recent in-depth study into what makes an education system successful or otherwise, the Learning Curve, demonstrated that teachers matter greatly. One of the single most important input variables in education is the quality of teaching. A large part of what makes a great teacher is the level and standard of education and training that teacher has received – and their access to quality, on-going professional development. And effective professional development must not only be about upgrading knowledge, but must also provide an avenue though which teachers can advance their careers in to more senior positions. Evidence demonstrates that the most effective professional development initiatives are those that embed practical, classroom based tasks that encourage real change in teacher behaviour. If we can provide our local teachers with professional development opportunities that fulfil these criteria than both teachers and those they teach will see meaningful returns".
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.