Motivational Factors and Teacher Re-tension in Secondary Schools in Uganda: A case of Bukedea Senior Secondary School

Abstract

The study mainly focused on establishing the relationship between motivation factors and teacher retention at Bukedea SSS, a government aided school covering a period of 5 years from 2013 through 2017. The study was guided by the following objectives: to explore the relationship between remuneration and teacher retention at Bukedea SSS; to establish the relationship between teacher training and teacher retention at Bukedea SSS; and, to find out the relationship between work-life balance and teacher retention at Bukedea SSS. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design applying both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Both simple random sampling and purposive sampling methods were applied to reach 53 participants including 49 respondents and 4 key informants. The study revealed that teacher remuneration in regards to salaries, allowances and bonuses had a considerable positive association with teacher retention at Bukedea SSS. It was also found out that, employee training exhibited at Bukedea SSS had a positive bearing on teacher retention as conducted through inductions, mentoring sessions and coaching. Further, study findings established that work-life balance in view of part-time teaching and compensated leave was critical in fostering teacher retention at Bukedea SSS. It was recommended that Bukedea SSS needs to pay its teacher adequately, institute allowances for different stakes of teacher, strengthen teacher training, promote professional teacher training, ensure job-sharing through part-time teaching and formulate work-life balance policies in a bid to enhance teacher retention. In conclusion, remuneration and teacher retention were requisitely associated and thus increment of teacher salaries, allowances and bonuses would significantly enhance teacher retention. Also, promotion of teacher training through induction, mentoring and coaching could pose a positive bearing on teacher retention. Creating a work-life balance for teacher would significantly improve their engagement and thus reduce turnover thereof at Bukedea SSS.