Lei Mee Thien

Validating Teacher Commitment Scale Using a Malaysian Sample

This study attempts to validate an integrative Teacher Commitment scale using rigorous scale validation procedures. An adapted questionnaire with 17 items was administered to 600 primary school teachers in Penang, Malaysia. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with SPSS 19.0 and AMOS 19.0, respectively. The results support Teacher Commitment as a multidimensional construct with its four underlying dimensions: Commitment to Student, Commitment to Teaching, Commitment to School, and Commitment to Profession. A validated Teacher Commitment scale with 13 items measured can be proposed to be used as an evaluative tool to assess the level to which teachers are committed to their students’ learning, teaching, school, and profession. The Teacher Commitment scale would also facilitate the identifications of factors that influence teachers’ quality of work life and school effectiveness. The practical implications, school cultural influence, and methodological limitations are discussed.

Factors Associated with Malaysian Mathematics Performance in PISA 2012

The impact of globalisation along with the critical demands for economic and social development have given rise to competition in keeping up with both international and regional growth. This situation has accelerated the momentum to strengthen and improve the education system of many countries especially in the Asia Pacific Region.