Factors that lead to shortage of secondary school teachers in Teso North District

Abstract

Kenya's social strategy towards achieving vision 2030 is investing in the people of Kenya. To achieve this, education and training is a key sector, earmarked as a catalyst to this transformation process aimed at making Kenya a regional centre of research and development in new technologies. Key flagship projects will include building and equipping 560 new secondary schools and to establish a teachers' recruitment programme to ensure that all schools have adequate teachers. This strategy is threatened by the declining status of the teaching profession which is attributed to low salaries, poor conditions of work and expansion of University education since most of them poach qualified teachers from schools.

This has led to haemorrhage of skilled teachers to greener pastures, including the private sector and government agencies. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that lead to secondary teacher shortage in Teso North District. This study has hopefully contributed a body of knowledge on ways of improving the morale of Kenyan teachers for better performance. The study examined eight independent variables leading to secondary school teacher shortages in Teso North District. A survey questionnaire was designed for this purpose. Statistical techniques like mean, standard deWition and variance were used for data analysis.

The district was until 2008 part of the larger Teso District. The overall academic performance of Teso North secondary schools has continued to be dismal. Quality KCSE grades have continued to be elusive. Teso North has been chosen for this study since there is high understaffing which may be contributing to poor results (see data teacher shortage). One theory is used to test the objectives of the study, namely the hierarchy of needs theory.

The theory is chosen due to its relevance and appropriateness in addressing the needs of teachers which have a direct bearing on their job satisfaction. The target population during the study was secondary school teachers in Teso North. It was Found that there are more male teachers than females due to factors operating within the community. It also emerged that the surrounding districts are the main catchments of teachers in the district, but due to an interplay of various factors, high turnover of teachers from the district resulted in shortage of staff in secondary schools.

It was recommended that a thorough study of marginalized districts like Teso North should be done to determine their manpower requirements in the education sector. The government through the Teachers Service Commission and the education Ministry should ensure there is adequate staffing of secondary schools to alleviate the current and future teacher shortages. Training of board of governors and principals on public relations and effective school management were recommended .