Challenges facing continuing professional development (CPD) of academic staff of the colleges of education in Ghana

Abstract

Professional development is critical in the life of every organization in positioning workers to meet changing trends of globalization. This study seeks to look at a critical analysis of the challenges facing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of academic staff of the colleges of education in Ghana. The exploratory, descriptive and evaluative case study approach that combined both qualitative and quantitative methods were used which basically adopted the questionnaire and the interview schedule in the collection of data. The census and the purposive sampling techniques were used in collecting data from 364 respondents constituting tutors, Human Resource Management and Development (HRMD) committee members and chairpersons, vice-principals and quality assurance officers. Primary data collected through the instruments used were analysed using the mean and standard deviation techniques. Text analyses were also done for the interview schedule data. The results of the study revealed that colleges of education do not maximise the full potential of benefits that accrue from CPD programmes due to some profound challenges such as lack of a systematic and comprehensive training needs analysis and weak interaction between the institution seeking the training and the institution providing the training. The study recommended that CPD programme be linked to the learning needs analysis and integration of knowledge with everyday practice. Management of colleges of education must endeavor to have an appraisal system linked to personal development planning of tutors.