A Practical Source Book for TPD Facilitators

Quality teachers play the most important role in improving children’s learning outcomes. It is therefore important to give attention to their needs and growth or professional development.  

This source book focuses on in-service TPD. In literature different forms of in-service TPD are described: there is professional training (e.g.: training workshops and short courses, cascade trainings and self-learning via distance or online), professional education (e.g. upgrading qualifications from 2 year to 3 year qualification; obtaining a masters degree) and professional support. The latter refers to school based TPD such as professional teacher meetings, mentorship, exposure, shadowing, class observation and demonstration lessons. Research shows that professional support or school based TPD has most effect on change in the classroom.

This source book will mainly focus on school based in-service TPD (in short “TPD”). This is TPD which takes place close to the teacher, in the work place, at the school. All practices, models and approaches described in this book are applicable to all forms of in-service TPD, whether it takes place at cluster, district, provincial or national level, but it will focus mostly on professional training and support taking place at school level.