Effects of Professional Attitude of Teachers on their Teaching Performance: Case of Government Secondary School Teachers in Malakand Region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Teachers’ professional attitude greatly affects their performance in the teaching and learning process. This study aims at exploring the perceptions of teachers regarding the relationship between teachers’ professional attitude and their performance. Questionnaire was used for data collection from 250 teachers randomly sampled from 50 boys’ secondary schools of the district. Analysis of data revealed that there is close relationship between teachers’ professional attitude and their performance. According to the findings of the study teachers with positive professional attitude perform better in the teaching and learning process. They are more motivated towards their profession. They are punctual in the school. They respect their students and colleagues. They participate in the school academic activities enthusiastically. They study also found that teachers with positive professional attitude have caring behavior towards students, parents and their colleagues. They are passionate learners. However, the study discovered that teachers in the sample schools have less opportunities of professional training which may cause a critical gap in the current practices of the teachers in the sampled schools. Therefore, on the basis of this study it is recommended that professional attitude of teachers could be further enhanced through institutionalizing continual professional development programmes in the schools. This will provide wider opportunities to the teachers in bringing about a paradigm shift in their attitudes towards teaching and learning.