Evaluating the Effectiveness of in-Service Teacher Training Programs on the Teachers' Practices and Professional Development of Primary School Teachers: Evidence from Pakistan

To guarantee high-quality instruction and enhance student learning outcomes, teachers' professional development is crucial. The objective of this study was to assess how well in-service teacher training programs contributed to the professional development of primary school teachers in Pakistan's Kohat district. A sample of 300 teachers chosen by stratified random sampling was used in a quantitative study design using a survey method. A structured questionnaire consisting of 15 Likert scale items was used to gather data on topics like teacher confidence, leadership abilities, dedication to lifelong learning, teamwork, and training relevance to classroom requirements. According to the results, in-service training programs greatly raised teachers' motivation for ongoing professional development, strengthened their leadership roles, and increased their professional competencies and confidence in teaching difficult concepts. Training programs' statistically significant effects on overall teacher professional development were confirmed by inferential analysis (p < 0.001). The study comes to the conclusion that effective in-service training programs that are tailored to the particular context are essential for empowering educators, encouraging teamwork, and raising the standard of instruction in elementary schools. To maintain the benefits of training, it suggests ongoing assistance, hands-on learning opportunities, and follow-up mentoring. Policymakers, school administrators, and educational planners looking to create more effective teacher development programs can learn a lot from these findings.