The Link between Teacher Professional Development and Student Achievement: A Critical View

Abstract

Teacher professional development (TPD) plays an essential role in enhancing teachers’ professionalism, performance and knowledge. Teachers all over the world have been and are still involved in professional development programs and activities. Some of those programs are sought out by teachers themselves, but many other activities and workshops might be imposed on them. This paper is an attempt to critically review the crucial relationship between teacher professional development in primary and secondary schools and students’ achievement. It will also shed light on the status of professional development programs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and will conclude with an attempt to suggest some solutions which may benefit those in authority positions in making their decisions about designing and planning such programs.