Professional Development generally refers to on-going learning opportunities available to teachers. Effective professional development is seen as increasingly vital to school success and teacher’s satisfaction.

          A well-trained teacher is the greatest factor in predicting student achievement more than materials, written curriculum and even class size. Improving the expertise of teacher’s results in far greater gain in student learning than do investments in tests, materials or programs. Every proposal to reform, restructure or transform school emphasizes professional development as the primary vehicle in efforts to bring about needed change. To meet the goals of reform, teacher must make changes from the core each and learn. That’s why the DepEd has stressed the need for teachers to be able to enhance and build their instructional knowledge.

          Teachers should always remember a fact that teachers training cannot stop on their graduation from college. One may ask “why didn’t the teacher learn what they need to know for a lifetime of teaching during just a few years in college. Some of the most important lessons can be learned only after they have their own students.

          But it’s no secret that many teachers view the professional development program’s- those characterized by sustained, coherent study, collaborative learning. Time for classroom experimentation and follow-up. It’s good to give teachers the depth of knowledge necessary to meet the student’s diverse and changing need.

By: Victoria D. Ramos | T-II | A.G. Llamas Elementary School