Teacher Professional Development in STEM: A Mixed-Methods Examination of Its Impact in Cape Town, South Africa

Teacher professional development (TPD) in STEM education is crucial for enhancing teaching effectiveness and student engagement. A mixed-methods study combining quantitative survey data with qualitative interviews to assess the efficacy of TPD initiatives. TPD workshops significantly improved teachers' confidence and knowledge in STEM subjects, particularly in areas like physics and biology. Professional development programmes have a positive impact on educators' abilities to teach STEM effectively. Investment should be made in ongoing professional training for STEM educators to maintain high-quality teaching standards. STEM education, teacher professional development, qualitative research, quantitative analysis