Abstract: The purpose of this conceptual paper is to provide an overview of Hakka influence on the educational landscape of Sabah, Malaysia. As the largest Chinese dialect group in Sabah, Hakkas have been a driving force behind the establishment and development of Chinese-medium and vernacular education across the state. The earliest schools established by the Hakka were deeply tied to the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia. Besides the Basel Mission, regional chapters of the Hakka Association have historically mobilized community funds to build early schools and education centers. Out of the nine Chinese independent secondary schools operating in Sabah today, eight were founded or are predominantly managed by Hakka clan associations or eminent Hakka leaders. Hakkas view education as a vital tool for survival, social mobility, and cultural preservation that is deeply rooted in their historical migration and adversity. Their core educational values are grounded on survival and competitiveness. Contemporary Hakkas in Sabah face modern educational realities and language shifts, compromising between economic realities and heritage language. Today, Hakkas prioritize the Malay Language and English that offer stronger instrumental motivation for employment and socioeconomic mobility. Augmented by community bursaries and support systems, current Hakka-supported schools are highly inclusive, enrolling growing numbers of non-Chinese and bumiputera (indigenous) students.

Keywords: Basel, Chinese, Hakka influence, Educational landscape, Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia.

Title: Hakka Influence on the Educational Landscape of Sabah, Malaysia: A Conceptual Paper

Author: Fung Lan Yong, Florence Chuah, Loreta Ling Ling Uie, Chung Jin Jong

International Journal of Novel Research in Education and Learning

ISSN 2394-9686

Vol. 13, Issue 6, November 2026 - December 2026

Page No: 10-18

Novelty Journals

Website: www.noveltyjournals.com

Published Date: 11-November-2026

Abstract: This study examined the relationship between three professional development (PD) programmes (in-service training, workshop participation and conference attendance) and teachers’ job performance in public secondary schools in Delta State, Nigeria. An ex-post-facto design incorporating descriptive and correlational survey methods was adopted. From a target population of 11,070 principals and teachers in 463 public secondary schools, 480 respondents (100 principals and 380 teachers) from 100 schools were selected through multi-stage sampling. Data were collected with the Teachers’ Performance Questionnaire (TPQ) and the Professional Development Programmes Questionnaire (PDPQ), both 4-point scales (sub-scale reliability α = .79–.88; pilot n = 30), and analysed in SPSS version 26 using means, standard deviations, the coefficient of determination (r²), and Pearson’s product-moment correlation (r) at the .05 level. In-service training (r = .198), workshop participation (r = .196) and conference attendance (r = .242) were each positively and significantly related to teachers’ performance (all p < .001). The relationships were low, accounting for 3.9%, 3.8% and 5.9% of the variance in teachers’ performance respectively. Participation in PD programs is positively associated with teachers’ performance, but participation alone explains very little of it. PD policy in Delta State should therefore attend to the design quality of programs (content focus, practice and follow-up) as well as access, and should recognise other school-level determinants of performance.

Keywords: Professional Development; in-service training; workshop participation; conference attendance; teachers’ job performance; Delta State; Nigeria.

Title: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELECTED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES AND TEACHERS’ JOB PERFORMANCE IN DELTA STATE PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Author: DAFIAGHOR, Charity, ASIYAI, Romina I, AKPOREHE, Dorah A

International Journal of Novel Research in Education and Learning

ISSN 2394-9686

Vol. 13, Issue 6, November 2026 - December 2026

Page No: 1-9

Novelty Journals

Website: www.noveltyjournals.com

Published Date: 02-November-2026