Research Article
Exploring the Professional Learning and Development Needs of Public Primary School Teachers in Lagos State, Nigeria
More Detail
1 Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, CANADA2 University of Lagos, Yaba, Lagos State, NIGERIA* Corresponding Author
International Journal of Professional Development, Learners and Learning, 7(2), July 2025, e2516, https://doi.org/10.30935/ijpdll/17080
Submitted: 28 December 2024, Published: 17 September 2025
OPEN ACCESS 13 Views 5 Downloads
ABSTRACT
Considering that teachers are the most influential in improving student learning, it is essential to understand their professional learning and development (PLD) needs. This exploratory research examined the existing and desired PLD of primary public school teachers in Lagos State, Nigeria. We used an online survey to collect data, and 87 teachers from six Lagos State school districts participated. The findings provided evidence to direct current and future PLD. We concluded that a re-conceptualization of PLD among teachers would support developing a stronger sense of teacher empowerment and self-efficacy through more self-directed PLD. These recommendations could be beneficial for improving the teaching quality and reducing the learning crisis in Lagos State, Nigeria and beyond.
CITATION (APA)
Briscoe, P., & Funmilayo, A. (2025). Exploring the Professional Learning and Development Needs of Public Primary School Teachers in Lagos State, Nigeria. International Journal of Professional Development, Learners and Learning, 7(2), e2516. https://doi.org/10.30935/ijpdll/17080
REFERENCES
- Adeniyi, T. A. (2015). Implementing government policies in university education: Challenges faced by Nigerian university’s principal officers. Net Journal of Social Sciences, 3(1), 9–16.
- Angrist, J. D., & Lavy, V. (2001). Does teacher training affect pupil learning? Evidence from matched comparisons in Jerusalem public schools. Journal of Labor Economics, 19(2), 343–369. https://doi.org/10.1086/319564
- Awodiji, O. A., Ogbudinkpa, I. C., & Agharanya, M. C. (2020). Teachers’ professional development: A panacea to quality education in Nigeria. International Journal of Educational Management, 18(1), 11–23.
- Beeharry, G. (2021). The pathway to progress on SDG 4 requires the global education architecture to focus on foundational learning and to hold ourselves accountable for achieving it. International Journal of Educational Development, 82, Article 102375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102375
- Berger, R. (2015). Now I see it, now I don’t: Researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research. Qualitative Research, 15(2), 219–234. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794112468475
- Bergmark, U. (2023). Teachers’ professional learning when building a research-based education: Context-specific, collaborative and teacher-driven professional development. Professional Development in Education, 49(2), 210–224. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2020.1827011
- Biancarosa, G., Bryk, A. S., & Dexter, E. R. (2010). Assessing the value-added effects of literacy collaborative professional development on student learning. The Elementary School Journal, 111(1), 7–34. https://doi.org/10.1086/653468
- Blank, R. K., & de las Alas, N. (2009). Effects of teacher professional development on gains in student achievement. Council of Chief State School Officers. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED544700.pdf
- Bold, T., Filmer, D., Martin, G., Molina, E. Rockmore, C., Stacy, B. W., Svensson, K., & Wane, W. (2017). What do teachers know and do? Does it matter? Evidence from primary schools in Africa. The World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-7956
- Bowe, J., & Gore, J., (2017). Reassembling teacher professional development: The case for quality teaching rounds. Teachers and Teaching, 23(3), 352–366. https://doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2016.1206522
- Briscoe, P., Aiwuyo, O. M., & Iwuagwu, O. B. (2023). The (non) influence of monetary incentives on teacher job performance in Edo Central Senatorial District, Nigeria. World Journal of Educational Research, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.22158/wjer.v10n2p101
- Bronfenbrenner, U. (2005). Making human beings human: Bioecological perspectives on human development. SAGE.
- Clarke, D., & Hollingsworth, H. (2002). Elaborating a model of teacher professional growth. Teaching and Teacher Education, 18(8), 947–967. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0742-051X(02)00053-7
- Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M. E., & Gardner, M. (2017). Effective teacher professional development. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/122.311
- DeMonte, J. (2013). High-quality professional development for teachers: Supporting teacher training to improve student learning. Center for American Progress. http://www.tapsystem.org/publications/tap-in-focuscenter-for-american-progress-high-quality-teacher-professional-development.pdf
- Desimone, L. M. (2009). Improving impact studies of teachers’ professional development: Toward better conceptualizations and measures. Educational Researcher, 38(3), 181–199. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X08331140
- Desimone, L.M., (2011). A primer on effective professional development. Phi Delta Kappan, 92(6), 68–71. https://doi.org/10.1177/003172171109200616
- Didion, L., Toste, J. R., & Filderman, M. J. (2020). Teacher professional development and student reading achievement: A Meta-Analytic review of the effects. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 13(1), 29–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2019.1670884
- Evans, L. (2019). Implicit and informal professional development: What it “looks like”, how it occurs, and why we need to research it. Professional Development in Education, 45(1), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2018.1441172
- Ezeyi, V. N., Ene, N.N. S., & Nwosu, R. Y. (2021). National policy on education in Nigeria. In Historiological dimensions of the Nigeria education. Equity ventures in conjunction with mega atlas projects limited (pp. 91–150).
- Fareo, O. D. (2015). Professionalization of teaching in Nigeria: Strategies, prospects and challenges. Journal of Education and Learning, 9(3), 190–196. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v9i3.1801
- Farrugia, M. (2021). Teacher agency in professional learning and development: Teachers leading their own professional growth [Doctoral dissertation, University of London].
- Garrett, R., Citkowicz, M., & Williams, R. (2019). How responsive is a teacher’s classroom practice to intervention? A meta-analysis of randomized field studies. Review of Research in Education, 43(1), 106–137. https://doi.org/10.3102/0091732X19830634
- Gore, J., (2020). Why isn’t this empowering? The discursive positioning of teachers in efforts to improve teaching. In A. Brown, & E. Wisby, (eds.), Knowledge, policy and practice: The struggle for social justice in education (pp. 199–216). UCL Press.
- Gore, J., Lloyd, A., Smith, M., Bowe, J., Ellis, H., & Lubans, D. (2017). Effects of professional development on the quality of teaching: Results from a randomised controlled trial of Quality Teaching Rounds. Teaching and Teacher Education, 68, 99–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2017.08.007
- Guskey, T. R. (2000). Evaluating professional development. Corin Press.
- Ige, A., & Fasakin, M. O. (2014). Constraints to education development and way forward in Nigeria. European Journal of Academic Essays, 1(10), 42–50.
- Karacabey, M. F., Bellibaş, M. Ş., & Adams, D. (2022). Principal leadership and teacher professional learning in Turkish schools: Examining the mediating effects of collective teacher efficacy and teacher trust. Educational Studies, 48(2), 253–272. https://doi.org/10.1080/03055698.2020.1749835
- Kennedy, M. M. (2016). How does professional development improve teaching? Review of Educational Research, 86(4), 945–980. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654315626800
- Kennedy, M. M. (2019). How we learn about teacher learning. Review of Research in Education, 43(1), 138–162. https://doi.org/10.3102/0091732X19838970
- Korthagen, F. (2017). Inconvenient truths about teacher learning: Towards professional development 3.0. Teachers and Teaching, 23(4), 387–405. https://doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2016.1211523
- Kumar, R. (2014). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners (4th ed.). SAGE.
- Lambirth, A., Cabral, A., McDonald, R., Philpott, C., Brett, A., & Magaji, A. (2021). Teacher-led professional development through a model of action research, collaboration and facilitation. Professional Development in Education, 47(5), 815–833. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2019.1685565
- Learning Scoop. (2022). Teachers’ training programs for teachers from Lagos State. Learning Scoop. https://learningscoop.fi/teacher-training-program-for-teachers-from-lagos-nigeria/
- Leithwood, K., Harris, A., & Hopkins, D. (2020). Seven strong claims about successful school leadership revisited. School Leadership & Management, 40(1), 5–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2019.1596077
- Lloyd, M., & Davis, J. P. (2018). Beyond performativity: A pragmatic model of teacher professional learning. Professional Development in Education, 44(1), 92–106. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2017.1398181
- Nigerian Education Research and Development Council (NERDC). (2013). National policy of education. NERDC Press. https://nipc.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/National-Education-Policy-2013.pdf
- OCT. (2013). 2013 Registration guide: Requirements for becoming a general education teacher in Ontario. Ontario College of Teachers. https://www.oct.ca/-/media/PDF/Requirements%20General%20Education%20Teacher/EN/general_education_teacher_e.pdf
- OECD. (2005). Teachers matter: Attracting, developing and retaining effective teachers. OECD Publishing.
- OECD. (2018). Education at a glance 2018: OECD indicators. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/eag-2018-en
- Peter, J. O., & Isaac, E. (2013). Adequacy and inadequacy of education funding in Nigeria. Universal Journal of Education and General Studies, 2(8), 239–254.
- Popova, A., Evans, D. K., Breeding, M. E., & Arancibia, V. (2022). Teacher professional development around the world: The gap between evidence and practice. The World Bank Research Observer, 37, 106–136. https://doi.org/10.1093/wbro/lkab006
- Sancar, R., Atal, D., & Deryakulu, D. (2021). A new framework for teachers’ professional development. Teaching and Teacher Education, 101, Article 103305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2021.103305
- Smith, J. A., & Fieldsend, P. (2021). Interpretative qualitative research in psychology: Expanding perspectives in methodology and design. American Psychological Association.
- Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M. (2003). Interpretative phenomenological analysis. In J. A. Smith (Ed.), Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to methods (pp. 51–80). SAGE.
- Sule, A. S. (2022). Control of education in Nigeria. In R. A. Alani, V. E. Onyene, S. A. Bello, & M. A. Oladejo (Eds.), Theory and practice of educational management in Nigeria (pp.129–143). The Department of Educational Management, University of Lagos.
- TNTP. (2015). The mirage. Confronting the hard truth about our quest for teacher development. The New Teacher Project. https://tntp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/TNTP-Mirage_2015.pdf
- Trabona, K., Taylor, M., Klein, E. J., Munakata, M., & Rahman, Z. (2019). Collaborative professional learning: Cultivating science teacher leaders through vertical communities of practice. Professional Development in Education, 45(3), 472–487. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2019.1591482
- UNESCO. (2014). Teaching and learning: Achieving quality for all. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. https://www.unesco.org/gem-report/en/teaching-and-learning-achieving-quality-all
- UNESCO. (2017). Reducing global poverty through universal primary and secondary education. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. https://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/reducing-global-poverty-through-universal-primary-secondary-education.pdf
- Wenglinsky, H. (2000). How teaching matters: Bringing the classroom back into discussions of teacher quality. Educational Testing Service. https://www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/PICTEAMAT.pdf
- Wiley, D., & Yoon, B. (1995). Teacher reports on opportunity to learn: Analyses of the 1993 California Learning Assessment System (CLAS). Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 17(3), 355–370. https://doi.org/10.3102/01623737017003355
- Woolfolk, A., Winne, P. H., & Perry, N. (2016). Educational psychology (6th ed.). Pearson.
- World Bank. (2018). World development report 2018: Learning to realize education’s promise. The World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2018
- Yaro, I. (2018). Education policy development in Nigeria: Challenges and way forward. Education, 2(1), 42–48. https://doi.org/10.30690/ijassi.21.12
- Yoon, K. S., Duncan, T., Wen-Yu Lee, S., Scarloss, B., & and Shapley, K. (2007). Reviewing the evidence on how teacher professional development affects student achievement. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Regional Educational Laboratory Southwest. http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs