Teachers’ Turnover: What are the Explanatory Variables in Public Secondary Schools in Mbeere South Sub-County, Embu County, Kenya?

Abstract

The thrust of this study was to examine the main explanatory variables for the rapid teachers’ turn over in public secondary schools in Mbeere South Sub-County, Embu County Kenya. The study was premised on in investment Human Capital Theory, proposed by Becker (1993). The objectives of the study were threefold, namely to: analyse school management policies, the attitude of teachers, and personal characteristics of teachers on rate of turnover among teachers in public secondary schools in Mbeere sub- county, Embu County. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. Combinations of purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 29 principals and 120 teachers yielding a total sample size of 149 participants. A questionnaire, piloted prior to data collection to determine its validity and reliability, was used as the main research instrument. In-depth interview with principals corroborated and complimented data generated through questionnaires. The main findings were that the teacher turnover was high and fluctuating having increased from 4.27% in 2009 to 8.21%, in 2010 and marginally decreased to 7.2% in 2011. The main reasons for the high teachers’ turn over were: job dissatisfaction among teachers as results of poor motivation and remuneration, limited avenues for promotions and professional growth due to unsupportive school and government policies. It was recommends that the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Education and Salaries and Remuneration Commission should put in place functional teacher professional development strategies and enhanced remuneration initiatives to enhance their efficiency, productivity and reduce current turnover; amongst others .