The Intention of Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary School Teachers to Implement Professional Learning Communities for Professional Development

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors influencing Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary School (MICSS) teachers’ intention to implement Professional Learning Community (PLC)as a means to achieve their professional development. The study also aims to discover the targeted factors experienced by MICSS teachers whichhad hindered or facilitate their learning and implementation of PLC. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and PLC theory wereused as the theoretical bases of the study. Qualitative data was collected through several semi-structured interviews with eight MICSS teachers. Interviews were transcribed. Coding and constant comparison were adopted during data analysis.The findings of this study indicated that MICSS teachers appeared to have relatively strong intention to learn and applyPLC. The results also indicated that poorly planned teacher training activities, heavy workloadsand unsupportiveschool administrators hadhindered MICSS teachers’ learning and applicationof PLC as a means to achieve their professional development.