Abstract:

The evolving demands of the 21st-century classroom require innovative and sustained approaches to teacher professional development. In Slovakia, the establishment of Regional Pedagogical Support Centres (RPSCs) responds to this need by providing ongoing mentoring, introducing new teaching strategies, and building stronger teacher networks. Since 2023, the RPSC system has been aligned with national educational reforms, addressing curricular updates and promoting digital competencies among educators. Out of 40 centres, four bilingual RPSCs offer tailored mentoring in Slovak and Hungarian, specifically supporting minority-language educators and reflecting broader European strategies that prioritize localized, language-sensitive support systems.

This study analyses three years of mentoring practice in 4 of these centres, drawing on feedback and questionnaire responses from more than 500 mentored teachers. The survey items focus on key dimensions of professional growth, including the extent to which mentoring:
(a) inspired new ideas for classroom practice,
(b) improved pedagogical skills and methods,
(c) provided useful feedback for planning and delivering instruction,
(d) increased teachers’ confidence in handling challenging classroom situations,
(e) broadened their professional horizons and motivation for further learning, and
(f) strengthened their openness to discussing problems and seeking solutions.

Quantitative ratings are complemented by qualitative comments illustrating concrete changes in practice, such as more effective group work, personalized teaching, and strategies for conflict resolution and inclusive education.

The findings highlight mentoring within RPSCs as a powerful lever for both professional and personal teacher growth. The study offers evidence-based insights for policymakers and school leaders on how regionally embedded, bilingual mentoring structures can effectively support teacher development in a reform context.

Keywords:

Teacher mentoring, professional development, Regional Pedagogical Support Centres, bilingual education, educational reform in Slovakia.