ABSTRACT
This research work is titled Influence of Teachers' Professional Development on Students' Academic Performance in History.The major aim of this study was to ascertain the influence of teacher professional development on students' academic performance. Five research questions guided this study.
Subsequently, the review of literature was conducted under different subheadings in order to understand what had been done in the past on the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of this study comprised all public secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area of EDO State. The sample for the study consisted of hundred (100) students drawn from 12 (12) secondary schools in Egor Local government area of Edo state, and ten (10) teachers. The questionnaire which was validated by the researcher's supervisor and other experts was used to elicit data for this research.
The findings of this study revealed that classroom management, effective evaluation techniques, and the use and application of digital tools are some of the teacher's professional development (TPD) programs undertaken in Egor local government area. The findings also revealed that TPD helps teacher's development of skill and knowledge which in return aids student's academic performance. Furthermore, findings revealed while promotion of teachers facilitates their work productivity, TPD also increases teacher's know-how which invariably improves the academic performance of the students. In addition, findings of this study revealed that among the challenges of TPD are securing sufficient funding, teachers with low purpose-driven, teachers heavy workload and school culture. Therefore, based on the findings of this study, it was recommended among others government at all levels should invest more in engaging teachers in professional development programs at regular intervals. Secondly, to prevent TPD from being perceived as akin to a religion by less motivated teachers, the government should conduct regular evaluations. Success in these evaluations should become a prerequisite for teacher promotion and salary increases.
