WHEN directed to attend courses, seminars or workshops, teachers are usually indifferent.
Instead, they welcome attending examination paper-marking meetings because they are paid to mark examination scripts.
Teachers are called to attend courses to upgrade their teaching and learning experiences.
When the economy was good, teachers were put up in hotels and resorts during the courses.
Today, government departments are on an austerity drive to cut cost and so, courses are held in less posh places, like teacher training centres and government training centres.
Many do not like to attend courses because of the extra responsibilities and work that they have to do when they return to school.
Some teachers are also reluctant to attend courses and seminars because they have to hold meetings with other teachers and form a committee to run the programmes in their school.
They have to do a working paper and show the progress of the activity to department officials who visit them.
All these entail a lot of work and add to their work of teaching.
Some teachers, because of their hardworking nature, may also head a few portfolios.
Many do not like to attend courses because of the change in their routine.
Some do not like to leave their students unattended, especially if they are teaching examination classes.
Some have a negative perception of courses and feel these are a waste of time.
They feel that the courses will not offer anything new and that they know everything.
But they do need to attend courses, seminars and workshops to better themselves and to enable them to impart what they have learnt to the students.
They need to attend courses for their professional development.
Most of the courses are in line with the Education Transformation Programme.
Continuous professional development courses equip teachers with pedagogies and remind them of their roles and responsibilities.
Teachers have to change their mindset and attitude about attending courses.
Primary and secondary teachers have to be prepared to attend more in-service courses from time to time with the Education Transformation Programme so that they can keep abreast of times. Learning never stops.
SAMUEL YESUIAH,
Seremban, Negri Sembilan