Development of Teachers’ Academic Performance in Secondary Schools in Etche Local Government Area : Rivers State of Nigeria

Abstract

The project reflects on professional development on teachers academic performance in secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area. It is a survey study. Two research questions were formulated for the study. The population sample of the study consists of 399 teachers from seventeen (17) secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area. The sampling technique used was random sampling method. The instrument utilized was questionnaire coded professional development and teachers’ academic performance questionnaire (PDTAPQ). Out of 399 copies of questionnaire distributed 378 were retrieved for analysis of the research questions. The result of the findings indicated that professional development of teachers refocusing the status quo of the school system hence contributing to high level of academic standard; in-service training fully integrates teachers’ talents and potentiality towards realizing the objectives and goals of the school system; workshops/conferences/seminars provide the medium for sharing assumptions, values, beliefs as well as engendering inter institutional resources and exchanging scholarly ideas. It is therefore concluded that enabling environment and opportunities be created for consistent acquisition of knowledge, skills and potentialities to pursuit the academic excellence. Hence, it is recommended that sufficient resources should be provided to assure effectiveness during the programme; there should be provision for positive reinforcement after training for transmission of the acquired knowledge and skills; varieties of development programme or activities should be provided to accommodate the interest of non-academic staff; teachers should be allowed to use research/publication as a yardstick for their promotion as in the universities system.