Factors influencing teachers’ job satisfaction in public secondary schools’ in Voi district Kenya

Abstract

Many teachers are taking their ‘noble’ career as a stepping stone to better careers which mean they are discontent with teaching as a career. Studies have shown that teachers have low job satisfaction. The ability to motivate and satisfy staff is the key to effective management and secondary school principals have been mandated with the task. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influence job satisfaction of secondary school teachers in Voi district Kenya. The objectives of the study were to establish the relationship between salary and job satisfaction of secondary school teachers, determine the extent to which supervision influence job satisfaction of teachers, determine the extent to which recognition influences job satisfaction of teachers, establish the relationship between promotion and job satisfaction of secondary school teachers and to determine the extent to which working conditions influences job satisfaction of secondary school teachers’ in Voi District Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive research design in which 33 teachers and 11 principals were sampled using simple random sampling method. The data was collected using self administered questionnaires and interview guides. The research instruments were pilot tested to test the reliability and validity of the instruments. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequency distributions. Presentations were done in tables, graphs and pie charts. The study established that the teachers were not satisfied with the salaries as according to most of the respondents, the salary was not a measure of their competence and could not meet their expenses. The other benefits offered such as fringe benefits, pension, medical and transport allowances were not according to the expectations of the respondents. The study however found that the respondents were to a large extent satisfied with the supervision except for the judgment of the junior staff. The study also established that the respondents were satisfied with the recognition by the principals, colleagues, parents and the BOG except for the recognition by the employer. The study established that the respondents were not satisfied with the working condition except for the offices. The study recommended that: the teachers’ salary and remuneration should be harmonized, all the teaching staff should be treated with due respect and no one should be undermined or no one should undermine the other as this will affect their self esteem. The government and the school management should have a strategy of publicly recognizing exemplary teachers for their hard work; government should have a scheme of service which will enhance fairness in the promotion of teachers and where the teachers will have equal chances of promotion. The government, parents and other donors should improve the working conditions of the teachers by constructing spacious staff rooms and classrooms and ensuring the libraries and laboratories are well equipped.