D. Tech. Education / The effectiveness of teacher development has been a concern for decades in South African schools. Linked to this, is the lack of or no innovative networks that is dependent on quality of teachers and continuous professional growth is an essential part of improvement in the quality of teaching. However, in this study it has emerged that professional development for teachers is unsatisfactory and has not met its intended purpose. Research indicated that the ineffectiveness of teacher development programmes is based on faulty assumptions or even no research at all. This study aimed to investigate a new paradigm on how cluster systems as innovative network could enhance teacher development to improve quality teaching because of the major obstacles perceived in its implementation.

M. Tech. Education / Transformation in the education system of South Africa brought new trends in education on policies, curriculum and teacher education. The educational reforms resulted in the negative implications to all role players in the teaching profession, as well as quality of teaching and learning programmes. Quality support services, at all levels of the new educational system, were, and continue to be in great demand for sustainability and development. This research provides an analysis and critique of the role of school management support teams with respect to the professional support and also prescribed by White Paper 6 of 2002. The aim of this research is to investigate the provision of professional teacher support and the role of teacher support teams or school management of the programme.