Investigation of Teachers’ Competencies through National Professional Standards for Teachers in Pakistan

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate teacher’s competencies through National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) in Pakistan at the secondary school level in Lahore. Nature of study was descriptive. Competencies of teachers investigated through NPSTP, delimited to four standards including human growth and development, instructional planning and strategies, assessment and professional development & code of conduct. Data collected through two questionnaires, filled by teachers and their students. Sample was 539 (241male and 198female) teachers and 1044 students of 9th and 10th classes from 72 boys and girls secondary schools of Lahore. An achievement test was constructed (26 MCQs) based on assessment standard and conducted on 216 willing teachers to measure their competencies. Although majority of teachers had little knowledge about assessment but they were not aware of this knowledge in true sense. The teachers (male, female) and students however, agreed with two major competencies of teachers i.e. assessment knowledge and pedagogical competencies for solving problems of students, discussing objectives of the topic, questioning students. The teachers should be trained in accordance with National Professional Standards for Teachers in Pakistan.