Effects of teachers' motivation on students performance in public secondary schools in Kikuyu District, Kenya

Abstract

The study investigated the factors influencing teachers’ motivation in public secondary schools in Kikuyu District, Kenya. This research is grounded on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory. It also presents a conceptual framework showing intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing motivation of teachers. Data was collected by means of a survey questionnaire distributed among 250 teachers and headteachers. T his study was found to be of importance in this era of universal education, especially now that Kenya needs motivated staff if performance is to be enhanced at this level. The study was meant to be of benefit to the entire school in that if motivation of teachers is discovered as the cause of poor performance then if addressed then the students will benefit. The reliability and validity tests for the research instruments were computed using Cronbachs coefficient alpha and obtained 0.85, which indicated that the instruments were reliable. Instrument administration was undertaken through individual visits paid to each respondent. The data was analysed using SPSS and presented using frequency tables. The study established that performance of secondary school teachers in Kikuyu district has been eroded because of low motivation and that the extrinsic motivating factors which results from the external reward like remuneration and fringe benefits were influencing teachers motivation more than the intrinsic factors. It was thus concluded that motivation of teachers require to he addressed in Kikuyu district.