21st Century Teacher Professional Development for Effective Implementation of Inclusive Education

Abstract

This chapter advocates for 21st-century teacher professional development to effectively implement inclusive education, aligning with global calls for addressing educational inequities and promoting human rights. Acknowledging teachers as pivotal in-school factors, the chapter emphasizes their role as agents of social justice and educational change. It highlights the need for teachers to address underachievement and the potential effects of social disadvantage, contributing to the social justice and human rights agenda. Embedded in Ubuntu philosophy, the chapter presents key elements of 21st-century teacher professional development, including a commitment to social justice, competencies in inclusive pedagogy, relational agency, and reflective practices. The chapter asserts that collaborative efforts with stakeholders are essential to challenge the status quo and foster social justice, human rights, and inclusivity in regular school classrooms.