My Career Development Plan

Hello! My name is Malissa Irdina binti Mohamad Mustakim. I'm a Year 3 student, from PISMP TESL 1 2021-2026. You will about to read my plan to develop myself from a school teacher to a school inspector. I do not expect an easy journey, as an educator has a big responsibility to deliver a quality education to the young generations. But with honest and hard work, I believe that I can develop my potential to be a good leader to society.

This blog is about my plan of career development to become a school inspector under the Ministry of Education of Malaysia (MoE). My plan to become a school inspector is inspired by the desire to ensure that school institutions and teachers achieve the standards of education based on MoE's vision and mission. It includes the stages based on the MoE's six stages of teacher development. This career development plan serves as a guide for my progression as an educator, outlining the key goals, skills, and roles at each stage of my career journey. It reflects my commitment to lifelong learning, leadership, and excellence in education.

Training to be a teacher in the Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) does not mean that I must be a teacher in the primary school for the rest of my career journey. Although I will start my journey as a primary school teacher, I still have lots of opportunities to further my journey to be in different positions in the education field. In order to develop my professionalism and career, I need to undergo training to acquire the necessary skills needed to become a professional in the field. Not just that, teachers play an important role in shaping future generations.

Hence, it is important for me to develop self-professionalism and my career so that I can be a competent teacher. As highlighted in the Malaysian Teacher Standard 2.0, a teacher must demonstrate three core competencies, namely professional knowledge and understanding, professional practice, and professional values. They serve as a foundation for teachers to continuously reflect, improve, and grow in their roles.

1. Novice (DG9): Build a Strong Teaching Foundation

• At this stage, my focus is to complete my teaching degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL). As a junior English teacher, I aim to master the content knowledge of the subject to ensure I can deliver lessons effectively.
• This is because I need to understand the content and discover effective ways to deliver the content to the pupils so that they can have a good comprehension of the subject.
• I will also learn to master pedagogical and classroom management skills. To be an effective teacher, it is important that I can deliver the knowledge using techniques and material that suit the pupils and can control their behaviour.
• I will also familiarise myself with the MoE’s policies, curriculum standards, and teacher professional standards to ensure that my practice is aligned with the national expectations.

2. Inspire (DG10): Strengthen Practice Through Innovation

• As I progress in my career, I plan to attend Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes to enhance my teaching skills. I will participate in workshops, particularly those focusing on the integration of technology in the classroom.
• I realise that pupils today are more engaged when technology is being integrated into their learning. For instance, I aspire to explore gamification as a strategy to make my English lessons more interactive and enjoyable.
• I will also practice reflective teaching daily to analyse the effectiveness of my lessons. Through reflection, I can identify my strengths, areas for improvement, and opportunities to improve my teaching practices.
• Furthermore, I aim to take on meaningful roles in school to broaden my impact through improving pupil outcomes, initiating teaching innovations, or adopting new instructional approaches that can provide support to diverse learners.

3. Competent (DG12): Lead and Mentor Others

• I intend to develop my leadership and mentoring abilities. I will actively participate in Professional Learning Communities (PLC) to learn from and collaborate with experienced educators.
• For example, engaging in professional dialogue and peer coaching will allow me to continuously improve while also contributing to the growth of others.
• I plan to take on leadership roles such as Head of the English Panel or mentor teacher for novice educators. These responsibilities will not only enhance my capacity as a leader but also allow me to guide others in achieving excellence in teaching and learning.

4. Proficient (DG13): Become a Leader of Change

• With more than 10 years of teaching experience, I plan to take on broader leadership responsibilities. I aim to attend the National Professional Qualification for Educational Leaders (NPQEL) programme to prepare myself for senior positions such as Headmaster or Senior Assistant in school.
• At this level, I will engage in educational research to improve teaching and learning practices and contribute actively to the development of the curriculum at the national level. My goal is to be involved in shaping changes that will improve the quality of education in Malaysia.
• As preparation before joining the School Inspectorate (Jemaah Nazir), I will apply for relevant training programmes and gain insights into the school quality assurance process.
• Then, I will apply to become a school inspector.

5. Strategic (DG14): Officially a School Inspector

• After successfully meeting the necessary requirements, I will officially join the Jemaah Nazir and Jaminan Kualiti (JNJK). In this role, I will be responsible for conducting school inspections and quality audits. This involves assessing the effectiveness of school management, curriculum implementation, and overall educational outcomes.
• As a school inspector, I will play a strategic role in ensuring that schools adhere to national standards and continue to improve in delivering quality education.

6. Insightful (Gred Khas C): Influence the National Education Policies

• At the pinnacle of my career, I aspire to become a holistic and strategic thinker who contributes to national-level decision-making. I hope to advise the Ministry of Education on the improvements of the education policy based on evidence and field experience.
• Additionally, I aim to publish research focused on education standards and school improvement. Through this, I can contribute to the development of a strong and forward-thinking national education framework that will benefit future generations.

With this plan in mind, I aim to not just fulfil my role as a teacher, but to also seek opportunities for professional development, leadership, and innovation in education. Whether through attending CPD courses, engaging in professional learning communities, or pursuing higher studies, each step that I take is part of a larger journey to serve the education system at multiple levels.

References:

• Bahagian Profesionalisme Guru. (2023). Standard Guru Malaysia 2.0 (1st ed.). Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia.
• Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. (2025, March 13). Jemaah Nazir. PORTAL RASMI KEMENTERIAN PENDIDIKAN MALAYSIA. https://www.moe.gov.my/jemaah-nazir