Technical Brief #2: Professional Learning Communities

This technical brief explores how professional learning communities (PLCs) contribute to improving the quality of education by strengthening the professional development and motivation of teachers and school leaders. It demonstrates how PLCs bridge the gap between policy, theory, and classroom practice, offering a cost-effective and sustainable model for continuous professional growth.

The publication outlines VVOB’s model for establishing effective PLCs, focusing on two levels: creating supportive policy environments and building the facilitation capacity of local education authorities. Case studies from Rwanda and South Africa illustrate how PLCs enhance school leadership, instructional practices, and learner outcomes. Additional examples from Ecuador, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Suriname highlight how VVOB works with ministries of education to institutionalise PLCs within national education systems, ensuring sustainability and improved teaching and learning quality.