Exploring Threats to Novice Teachers’ Development in Selected Secondary Schools in South Africa

Abstract

Newly appointed teachers in the profession encounter challenges that impact their professional development possibilities and potential. The first five years in the teaching profession are delicate and fragile. This is the era where growth and development are gathered through classroom practices. This article seeks to explore any potential threats to these teachers’ development prospects. This can be incomplete without perusing related literature and teacher development theories. This study is qualitative and interpretive in nature and involved 23 participants who were novice teachers, school management team members and school principals. The theories of teacher change and social learning theory were used as the theoretical framework. Teacher change theory argues that change can happen when teachers come across valuable experiences and knowledge in the course of life. Empirical evidence was authenticated through interviews from purposively selected schools in the Mopani district in South Africa. This paper was authored to help education authorities, teacher unions, and school management hierarchies with relevant teacher development practices that can mitigate threats to novice teacher development. One compelling finding was that most of the difficulties accompanying novice teachers’ development were beyond the novice teachers’ control while in certain instances; teachers’ attitudes need to improve. The participants affirmed the need to introduce school-based development programmes that are unique to individuals. The need to regularly monitor and support schools cannot be over-emphasised. The study recommended that the Circuits and the Districts need to take control of their responsibilities for novice teacher development programmes. They should ensure that all programmes are regularly monitored, and schools are allowed to introduce programmes that address their unique professional development needs. Recommendations for future research on the subject are made.