What is Continuous Professional Development (CPD)?

What is Continuous Professional Development (CPD)?

CPD is an acronym which means Continuous Professional Development.

CPD refers to the process by which teachers maintain and enhance their knowledge, skills and experiences as they work after any initial training.

What goes into CPD?

Mandatory NTC programmes:

Mandatory programmes are essential trainings that every teacher is expected to attend through Professional Learning Community (PLC) programmes such as SBI, CBI, DBI.

NTC Rank based programmes (Community of Practice)

Rank based programmes (Community of Practice) are training programmes expected to be attended by teachers in specific ranks, classes, subjects or positions to deal with specific issues in relation to their assigned roles. (School Improvement Officers, Heads of Schools, HODs, Directors of Education, Subject Teachers etc)

Recommended NTC programmes

Recommended programmes are trainings which are recommended by NTC based on needs assessment.

NTC Portfolio building

Portfolio building is a detailed record of training programmes and activities attended by a teacher within a specified period, that is, between the issuance of the license to its renewal.

CPD Points to be used for license renewal 

The National Teaching Council (NTC) per its guidelines, has opted to use CPD points as one of the conditions for renewal of in-service teachers licence and registration.

According to NTC, based on a person’s rank, one must obtained a minimum number of points to quality for renewal of licence and registration. The CPD points are gained by assessing NTC approved CPDs, either provided by the employer or accredited CPD providers.

Per the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 2020, Act 1023, 67) “A person shall not practice as a teacher unless the person is registered as a teacher in accordance with this Act.

Also, Section 79 of the same Act which says “A person shall not knowingly or negligently employ a a person as a teacher in an institution unless the teacher is registered under this Act.” Also, note that teachers are expected to renew their registration within fifteen days before the specified expiry date.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh