Factors Promoting Job Satisfaction among Teachers in Rural Secondary Schools in Murang’a South District, Kenya

Abstract

The article examined the factors promoting teacher job satisfaction in rural secondary schools in Murang’a South District. Descriptive survey design was used to carry out the study, while the research instrument comprised questionnaires, interview schedules and observation. Both stratified and simple random samplings were employed to select schools and teachers, while purposive sampling was used to sample principals and their deputies. The purposive sampling was used to collect data from interviews. The sample size comprised of 12 principals, 17 deputy principals and 127 teachers. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The results showed the main sources of teacher job satisfaction are the satisfaction of working with students collaboratively with colleagues and achieving personal professional growth. The study concluded that teachers’ dissatisfaction with pay, advancement in career, poor working conditions, lack of essential facilities, contributed to the teachers’ intention to leave the teaching profession and the desire to seek transfer to better places. Teachers felt that they are discriminated against in the award for hardship allowances, underpaid and made to work in insecure conditions where the parents and community paid less attention to their dignity and self-esteem. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education should maximize teacher satisfaction and minimize dissatisfaction not only for the benefit of teachers but for the sake of students as well. This therefore calls for teachers’ unions namely; KUPPET and KNUT to be vigorous in agitating for teachers’ demands that lead to job satisfaction.

Keywords:  Demographic factors, Job factors, Job satisfaction, Secondary Schools in Murang’a South District, Kenya