CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS: CURRENT TRENDS AND EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES

Abstract

The review article substantiates current trends in the continuous professional development of primary school teachers within the context of contemporary educational transformations, including: the digitalization of education and the development of teachers’ digital competence; the individualization of professional development and the design of individual educational trajectories; the formation of professional communities as environments for collaborative learning; and the advancement of mentoring and pedagogical coaching as instruments of supportive professional growth. The relevance of the study is determined by the processes of societal digitalization, the reform of the general secondary education system, Ukraine’s integration into the European educational area, the establishment of the concept of lifelong learning, as well as the challenges caused by martial law. The methodological framework of the research is based on a set of interrelated general scientific methods, including analysis, synthesis, generalization, systematization, the comparative method, the systemic approach, and content analysis, which ensured the objectivity and reliability of the obtained results. The role of digital educational platforms in ensuring the accessibility and continuity of teachers’ professional learning has been substantiated. Particular attention is focused on the activities of postgraduate pedagogical education institutions and centers for the professional development of pedagogical staff as key stakeholders in supporting the professional growth of primary school teachers. It is emphasized that the effectiveness of continuous professional development of primary school teachers is determined by the level of methodological, consultative, and organizational support that ensures the systematic, continuous, and practice-oriented nature of their professional growth.

Key words: continuous professional development; primary school teachers; lifelong learning; digitalization of education; educational transformations; educational practices; professional growth.