Challenges in the Posting and Transfer of Teachers to Rural Community Schools in the Sissala East Municipality

Abstract

The effective posting and transfer of teachers is a linchpin in getting teachers to rural school locations. This study explored the challenges faced by the Sissala East Municipal Education Directorate in posting and transfer of teachers to rural schools. It further looks at the effects of inadequate teachers in rural schools and proposes strategies to engender the posting and transfer of teachers to rural schools. The concurrent triangulation design type of the mixed method research paradigm was employed for the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected simultaneously. Two hundred and sixty (260) respondents were sampled for the study through simple random, stratified and purposive sampling techniques. The data were collected using a questionnaire (five-point Likert scale) and a semi-structured interview guide. The collected data sets were analysed using SPSS software version 20. The study found that teacher accommodation, professional development needs, perceived ignorance about rural dwellers and condition as well as branding rural teachers as “village teachers”, teachers desire to live in urban areas, Ministry of Education recruitment practices, the desire of graduate teachers to teach in senior high and urban schools, contribute significantly to the challenge of posting and transfer of teachers to rural schools. On the effects of inadequate teachers, the study found the practice of multigrade teaching, heavy workload on teachers, the presence of unqualified teachers and the inability to cover the curriculum On strategies in attracting and retaining teachers in rural schools, the study found the following strategies: recruiting teachers from targeted rural areas, induction of new teachers, provision of financial incentives and siting of teacher training institutions in rural areas. The study, contrary to previous research findings found that force transfer of teachers should be enforced. The study concluded that the Sissala East Municipal Education Directorate is challenged in the posting and transfer of teachers to rural schools. The study recommended the provision of decent accommodation for teachers, giving priority to rural teachers in granting of study leave, provision of social amenities in rural areas, decentralizing recruitment of teachers, provision of financial incentives and induction of new teachers. Keywords: posting, transfer, urban, rural and community DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-36-13 Publication date: December 31 st 2020