OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENES FOR ONLINE CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS IN INDIA:A CRITICAL REFLECTION
Author(s): Manoj Mirdha
Authors Affiliations:
Research Scholar, Department of Education (C.I.E) University of Delhi, Delhi India 110007
DOIs:10.2017/IJRCS/202610006     |     Paper ID: IJRCS202610006Continuous professional development CPD has emerged as an important for improving effectiveness for teachers. In the context of continuous educational reformation under the guidance of the National Education Policy 2020. (MHRD, 2020, p 22). With the increasing integration of ICT in education, teachers need to engage in continuous learning beyond the conventional face-to-face learning models. In recent years, professional development of teachers has been gradually conducted through various online platforms such as Google Meet, Microsoft Team, and Zoom. This transformation is now we called as continuous professional development through online mode. This study is conducted by using an unstructured narrative review of 28 research articles to present a critical review of the opportunities and challenges associated with online CPD, as well as identify major areas for possible research directions. Through the narrative analysis of literature, the investigator finds various advantages and barriers of OCPD, including advantages like flexibility in learning and a scope of scalability across diverse geographical regions. Several ICT-enabled platforms such as DIKSHA, SWAYAM, and NISTHA have played a prominent role in reaching a greater number of teachers, particularly those working in remote and marginalised areas. Where access to conventional learning opportunities has often been restricted. These digital platforms allow participants to engage in self-paced training and provide access to various pedagogical resources. In this study, the investigator has highlighted persistent challenges that limit the effectiveness of online CPD for teachers. Problems like digital literacy, inadequate infrastructural facilities, digital divide, and limited scope for meaningful interactions affect the teacher participation and engagement. In this study, it has been argued that while CPD has considerable transformative potential. Its success depends upon the well-structured design, reliable systematic institutional support and active engagement of teachers.
Manoj Mirdha (2026); Opportunities And Challenges for Online Continuous Professional Development of Teachers In India: A Critical Reflection, International Journal of Research Culture Society, ISSN(O): 2456-6683, Volume – 10, Issue – 10, Available on – https://ijrcs.org/
- Abuhattab, S. Y., Arafeh, A. J., & Alghafri, M. S. (2024). Opportunities and Challenges of online Professional Development Training: Perspectives of private schools’ teachers. International Journal of Educational & Psychological Studies, 13(6), 1099–1104. https://doi.org/10.31559/eps2024.13.6.9
- Ahadi, A., Bower, M., Singh, A., & Garrett, M. (2021). Online Professional Learning in response to COVID-19—Towards Robust Evaluation. Future Internet, 13(3), 56. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi13030056
- Ansyari, M. F., Groot, W., & De Witte, K. (2022). Teachers’ preferences for online professional development: Evidence from a discrete choice experiment. Teaching and Teacher Education, 119, 103870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2022.103870
- Banik, S., & Saha, A. (2023). Importance of continuous professional development (cpd) program in teaching profession. International journal of creative research thoughts, 11(3 March 2023). https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2303033.pdf
- Bragg, L. A., Walsh, C., & Heyeres, M. (2021). Successful design and delivery of online professional development for teachers: A systematic review of the literature. Computers & Education, 166, 104158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2021.104158
- Daily, J. (2021). Exploring the Impact of Online Team- Initiated Problem solving professional development on teachers perceptions of efficacy and problem solving skills [PhD, university of Oregon]. https://share.google/DbSLWNMxulWjaO4M6
- Gibson, B. (2020). The impact of professional development of effective teachers in low performing schools. Digital Commons at National Lewis University (National Lewis University). https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/453
- Heap, T., Thompson, R., & Fein, A. (2020). Designing teacher professional development programs to support a rapid shift to digital. Educational Technology Research and Development, 69(1), 35–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-020-09863-5
- Jinot, B. L. (2025). The effectiveness of online teaching and learning delivery for practicing teachers in a continuous professional development programme. Journal of Information Systems Engineering & Management, 10(52s), 126–138. https://doi.org/10.52783/jisem.v10i52s.10676
- Leary, H., Dopp, C., Turley, C., Cheney, M., Simmons, Z., Graham, C. R., & Hatch, R. (2020). Professional Development for Online Teaching: A Literature review. Online Learning, 24(4). https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v24i4.2198
- Lay, C. D. (2021). A Self-Study of the Shifts in Teacher Educator Knowledge Resulting from the Move from In-Person to Online Instruction (Order No. 28538340). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (2551223547). https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/self-study-shifts-teacher-educator-knowledge/docview/2551223547/se-2
- Mishra, L., Bhunia, S., & Puii, L. (2025). The experience of higher education teachers in India towards professional development. Discover Education, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00873-0
- Nami, F. (2021). Developing in-service teachers’ pedagogical knowledge of CALL through project-oriented tasks: The case of an online professional development course. ReCALL, 34(1), 110–125. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0958344021000148
- Olufemi, B. S., Olanike, S. T., Precious, O. O., & Henrietta, A. F. (2024). Perceptions of Nigerian physiotherapists regarding online learning for continuous professional development. Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports, 18(10), 216–225. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajarr/2024/v18i10768
- Quadri, G., & Mahmood, S. (2024). Professional development of teacher educators in the context of nep 2020. International journal of emarging knowledge studies, 03(01), 34–39. https://www.ijeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IJEKS-3-02-004.pdf
- Sabar, M. (2024). NEP-2020: a framework for teachers’ ongoing professional development. In ijmer (Vol. 13, Issue 4(1)). https://s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ijmer/pdf/volume13/volume13-issue4%281%29/11.pdf
- Schunk, D. H., & Zimmerman, B. J. (1997). Social origins of self-regulatory competence. Educational Psychologist, 32(4), 195–208. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15326985ep3204_1
- Senapati, R., & Singh, s. (2022). Continuous Professional Development (CPD) of In-Service School Teachers in India: A Systematic Review. Indian edcational review, 59–60, 69–87. https://www.academia.edu/127664576/Continuous_Professional_Development_CPD_of_in_service_School_Teachers_in_India_A_Systematic_Review
- Setiawan, I. (2024a). Implementation of online teacher Professional development Programs: Physical Education Teacher Perspectives. Retos, 57, 445–454. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v57.105406
- Setiawan, I. (2024b). Implementation of online teacher Professional development Programs: Physical Education Teacher Perspectives. Retos, 57, 445–454. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v57.105406
- Shahzad, K., Khan, S. A., Javed, Y., & Iqbal, A. (2023). E-Learning for Continuing Professional Development of University Librarians: A Systematic review. Sustainability, 15(1), 849. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010849
- Singh, S., Gupta, P., Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, University Education Commission, & Secondary Education Commission. (2020). Continuous Professional development for teachers in India: Prospects and challenges in reference to National Education Policy 2020 [Journal-article].
- Sonwani, F. (n.d.). Examining the challenges and opportunities of online and blended learning for continuous professional development. In https://doi.org/10.69758/GIMRJ/2501I02S01V13P0016.
- Srinivasacharlu, A. (2019). Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of teacher educators in 21st century. Shanlax International Journal of Education, 7(4), 29–33. https://doi.org/10.34293/education.v7i4.624
- Stieben, M. E., Pressley, T. A., & Matyas, M. L. (2021). Research experiences and online professional development increase teachers’ preparedness and use of effective STEM pedagogy. AJP Advances in Physiology Education, 45(2), 191–206. https://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00158.2020
- Sukarno, & Sumarwati. (2020). Problems faced by participants online continuing professional development for principals and strategies to solve. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Learning Innovation and Quality Education (ICLIQE 2019). https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200129.157
- Wynants, S., & Dennis, J. (2018). Professional Development in an Online Context: Opportunities and Challenges from the Voices of College Faculty. The Journal of Educators Online, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.9743/jeo2018.15.1.2
- Zhou, G., Varnhagen, S., Sears, M. R., Kasprzak, S., & Shervey, G. (2008). Online professional development for inservice teachers in Information and Communication Technology: Potentials and challenges. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 33(2). https://doi.org/10.21432/t28p4w
- (n.d.). NISHTHA online: Integrated teaching for change. https://itpd.ncert.gov.in//
- (1986). Report of the National Policy on Education. MHRD. https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upl oad_files/mhrd/files/upload_document /npe.pdf
- (1998). Report of the National Policy on Education. MHRD.https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/documentreports/NPE86-mod92.pdf
- (2020, September 8). National mission for mentoring (NMM). https://ncte.gov.in/website/Introduecti onNMM.aspx
- (2022). Guidelines for 50 hours of continuous professional development for teachers, head teachers, and teacher educators: Based on national education policy 2020. NCERT. https://ncert.nic.in/pdf/Guidelines50HoursCpd.pdf
- (2021). No teacher no class: State of the education report for India 2021.UNESCO. https://www.tatatrusts.org/Upload/Content_Files/no-teacher-no-class-state-of-the-education-report-for-india-2021.pdf
- Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. (n.d.). National Education Policy 2020. https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf

