The Continuing Professional Development Program for Vocational Teachers: Needs and Obstacles

Abstract

This study aimed to identify teachers' needs in the implementation of a continuing professional development program and analyze teachers' obstacles to achieving a continuing professional development program. This study used a mixed-method approach. The participants in this research include vocational teachers of business and management in Surakarta City Residency, Indonesia. The data collection techniques included observation, interview, documentation, and questionnaire. The data analysis techniques included quantitative and qualitative techniques. The results showed that there were several teachers' needs in the implementation of continuing professional development, such as personal development, scientific publications, as well as innovative works. Teachers experience obstacles in the implementation of continuing professional development, such as school administration, the teacher's understanding of writing scientific papers, writing scientific papers that were only needed when the teacher will be a promotion. This study seeks to investigate the needs and obstacles of teachers in implementing continuing professional development. The results can be used by educational institutions to understand well what the teachers’ need, as a form of a contribution to the development of literature in continuing professional development, and as a reference for schools to make schools policies.