STAFF MOTIVATION AND THE PERFORMANCE OF GOVERNMENT-AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS AT PRIMARY LEAVING EXAMINATIONS: A CASE STUDY OF BUKEDEA DISTRICT

Abstract

The general objective was to investigate the effect of staff motivation on the performance of government-aided primary schools at Primary Leaving Examinations in Bukedea District. Specific objectives were to: explore how staff housing affects performance at PLE; assess how monetary rewards affect performance at PLE and find out the influence of teaching materials on performance of government-aided primary schools at PLE in Bukedea District. The study used a descriptive case study design with both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A sample of 373 respondents participated in the study with 302 teachers, 56 head teachers and 15 District Education Officials. Simple random, census and purposive sampling techniques were used. The response rate was 97.8%. Structured interviews, Key informant interviews, observation and document review were the data collection methods. Quantitative data was analyzed using the descriptives, mean, standard deviation and Pearson correlation and regression. Qualitative analysis was done basing on thematic analysis. Major findings showed a weak positive and statistically significant correlation between staff housing and performance of primary schools at PLE; a moderate positive and statistically significant correlation between monetary rewards and performance at PLE. Finally, there was a weak, positive, statistically significant correlation between teaching materials and performance of government-aided primary schools at PLE. Regression analysis shows that staff motivation accounted for 12.8% of total variance in performance at PLE. Major conclusions were: staff housing leads to poor performance of government aided primary schools at PLE, monetary rewards is related to poor performance at PLE and teaching materials is related to improved performance at PLE, and vice versa. Major recommendations included: need to provide staff housing in the district budget; need for teachers to get salary increment, timely. Finally there is need for adequate material resources for the teaching of the subject.