A study of job satisfaction of heads of departments in public secondary schools in Embu district

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the levels of job satisfaction of heads of departments in public secondary schools in Embu District, Eastern Province while investigating the factors that caused satisfaction or dissatisfaction. The secondary purpose was to establish whether there was any relationship between job satisfaction of heads of departments as a dependent variable and selected demographic variables of gender, age, marital status, academic qualifications, teaching experience and administrative experience. Data were obtained by means of two types of questionnaires, which were distributed to 61 heads of departments and 18 headteachers respectively. The return rates were 92% (56/61) and 94% (17118) for the heads of departments and headteachers respectively. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The inferential statistics employed were t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), which were used to test the hypotheses of the study as 0.05 level of significance. Content -analysis of free responses were used to add more substance to statistical findings. Slightly more than half the heads of departments (50.9%) were satisfied with their work with the rest (49.1%) being either moderately or slightly satisfied. More male (57.1%) than female (44.4%) heads of departments were found to be satisfied. Most of the dissatisfied HODs were in guidance and counselling department. Comparing the school categories, the HODs in the rural areas were found to be more satisfied (5l.3%) than the HODs in the urban areas (16.7%). However the most satisfied were found to be in the rural/urban fringe (70%). Salary level was ranked as the most important job factor towards motivation and job satisfaction with the poor pay as the most dissatisfying job factor in the job of heads of departments. The results obtained after testing the hypotheses indicated that there was no significant difference between the computed means of the overall levels of job satisfaction and the variables of age, academic qualifications and the teaching experience. There were however significant differences realized between the means of the overall levels of job satisfaction and the variables of gender and administrative experience. Recommendation for improving the job satisfaction of heads of departments included the suggestions that: (i) The salary level of heads of departments be raised above that of other teachers (ii) The remaining four phases of the 200% salary rise promised by the Kenya Government in 1997 be effected (iii) A clearer and better job description of heads of departments be provided (iv) More and frequent management courses be provided to heads of departments through workshops and seminars especially to guidance and counselling teachers The study findings indicated that the headteachers were dissatisfied with the management roles played by the heads of departments. In view of this, the researcher suggests that in future, researchers might look at the expectations of the headteachers on the management roles of heads of departments through a study of the headteachers perceptions of these roles. More suggestions for further research include a study of merit criteria for purposes of promotion of teachers to various job categories within the established organizational structure. A study of the teaching occupation as a profession under unstable environment is also suggested.