Effects of career plateauing on attitudes and commitment of secondary school teachers towards their work in Ruiru and Thika west districts
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Date
2013-08-28
Authors
Njuguna, Bernard Kabera
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Abstract
Many employees find themselves in jobs that offer them limited mobility opportunity in
terms of upwards movements in the organization. Career plateau is considered as one of
the factors that affect employees' motivation, job satisfaction, job performance and
intention to quit an organization. Career plateau refer to a situation where an employee
stagnates in one job grade more than it is necessary, Careers progress gradually to take on
tasks of ever-increasing responsibility and the employee has time to get accustomed to
new challenges over the course of time. However, teaching usually implies the adoption
of full juridical and pedagogical responsibility right from graduation. Teachers face great
challenges right at the beginning of their career, but these challenges do not increase later
so long as they (teachers) do not change their career orientation and become, for example,
a head teacher. Teaching is described as a profession with early career plateau. It is also
suggested that teaching is a 'flat profession' and that teachers with twenty years of
experience may be doing essentially the same type of work as when they started teaching.
This study sought to establish the effect of career plateauing on attitudes and commitment
of teachers towards their work in Ruiru and Thika West district. The objectives of the
study were to; find out how career plateauing affects motivation of teachers in secondary
schools in Ruiru and Thika west districts, determine the effects of career plateauing on
job satisfaction of the teachers in Ruiru and Thika west districts, find out the extent to
which career plateuing affects labour turnover of teachers in Ruiru and Thika west
districts and to examine how career plateuing affect performance of teachers in Ruiru and
Thika districts. The study adapted a descriptive survey design. The target population of
the study were all the 26 public secondary schools in Ruiru and Thika districts with a
population of 378 teachers. A study sample of 13 schools (50%) was selected through
stratified sampling and simple random techniques. The principals of the sampled schools
were involved in the study as well as 104 teachers (6 from each school) selected through
purposive sampling based on their years of service with TSC. Thus a total of 91
respondents (24.1%) took part in the study. The study instruments were questionnaires
for principals and teachers. Questionnaires were conducted on six teachers prior to the
main study to test reliability of the questionnaires while validity of the instruments was
determined through guidance from experts who included the supervisors. Data was coded
and keyed in the computer for analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Scientist
(SPSS). Qualitative data was analyzed thematically according to objectives. Quantitative
data was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics such as averages, percentages, mean
and standard deviation. The findings were presented using frequency distribution tables,
bar graphs, line graphs and pie charts. The study found out that Career plateau lead to low
motivation and less commitment of teachers as well as low job satisfaction. Career
plateau also lead to lack of enthusiasm and dedication of teachers in performance their
duties. However, the study found out that career plateau affect turnover of teachers at
lower extent. The study is expected to have a practical implications for motivating
career plateaued teachers. The study will also enable the government through the ministry
of education to understand and appreciate the effects of career plateauing on attitudes and
commitment of teachers towards their work. This would pave way for formulation of
policies to minimize such impacts.