INFLUENCE OF WORKING CONDITIONS ON TEACHER ATTRITION IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN UASIN GISHU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

This paper investigates how working conditions in the schools influences teacher attrition. The working condition in schools refers to the school environment / climate that would in one way or other make teachers to have turnover intentions. This study was conducted in Uasin Gishu County that has faced increased rates of teacher attrition in addition to teacher shortages. To answer the research objective, a convergent parallel mixed method approach design was utilised. Data was collected from public secondary schools involving Form 3 and Form 4 students, teachers, principals, county education officials and teachers who had left the profession. The study collected data through use of questionnaire and interview schedule were used to collect data. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Research result showed that the following working conditions; indiscipline situation in schools among students, inadequate infrastructure and instructional resources, political interference, ethnicity, poor leadership, heavy workload among others influenced teacher attrition in schools. The study also found out that movement of teachers from schools located in the interior also fuelled attrition rate. The study recommends that Ministry of Education and the Teachers’ Service Commission should review the policy on the election of school prefects and hire professional counsellors for public secondary schools to deal with discipline related issues. Article visualizations: