Factors that impact on the effectiveness of professional development programs for science teachers in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The Saudi Arabian Government has made a substantial investment in reforming the science curriculum in Saudi Arabia. The need for effective professional development (PD) programs is especially crucial in the context of recent curriculum reform in Saudi Arabia. The country has adopted new science curricula following the guidelines of renowned global publishers like McGraw-Hill. However, the introduction of the new science curriculum is posing challenges for science teachers, as it requires a paradigm shift from a teacher-centred to a learner-centred pedagogy. The research for this research involved an in-depth study on the impact of mandatory PD programs on Saudi Arabian science teachers in order to identify potential challenges to achieving the expected level of benefit from the PD programs. This study used a qualitative approach to data collection techniques. through employs three main methods for data collection, observation ,open-ended questionnaire and interview. the most effective professional development programs are likely to be those that address the specific subject matter that relates to the teaching issues faced daily by teachers, rather than those that cover vague and decontextualised educational or pedagogical concepts. Other factors include teachers’ involvement in learning communities, the facilities and resources provided by the school, and individual learning styles. On the other hand, common factor responsible for the failure of professional development programs is that the content covered is not relevant to the teachers’ specific needs. PD programs in Saudi Arabia are mainly focused on quantity instead of quality