Factors influencing professional development of teachers of agriculture in public secondary schools in Nyamira County, Kenya

Abstract

Improved teacher professional development will positively impact on teacher competence through improved learner achievement, economic prosperity and eventually global cooperation. This study sought to investigate factors that influence the professional development of teachers of agriculture in public secondary schools in Nyamira County. An exploratory research design was used to taret teachers of Agriculture, Principals and Quality Assurance and Standards officers in Nyamira County. The study employed 167 public secondary schools with 210 teachers of Agriculture. Random sampling was utilized to sample 50 public secondary schools for the study. Simple random sampling was used to sample teachers of Agriculture and Principals while purposive sampling was used to sample Quality Assurance and Standards Officers. Questionnaires were administered to a total of 136 teachers of Agriculture while an interview schedule was administered on 50 Principals and 5 Quality Assurance and Standards officers for collection of primary data. Data collected were subjected to both descriptive and inferential analysis and presented using frequencies, percentages and tables. The study established that that recognition of professional development attained by teachers, provision of sufficient resources and making efficient government policies, availability of professional development opportunities, improvement of school leadership system, provision of sufficient resources/funds, build of better school/academic environment, cost of professional development programmes, recognition of professional development attained are significant factors influencing professional development of teachers of agriculture in public secondary schools in Nyamira county. Thus, stakeholders should identify and address these factors to enhance the professional development of Teachers of Agriculture in this study area and beyond.