Investigating the Motivating Factors That Influenced the University of Namibia First Year Undergraduate Student Teachers to Choose Teaching as Career: A Case Study

Abstract

This study investigates factors that motivated the first year undergraduate student teachers for choosing teaching as a career and also explores their perceptions about the teaching profession in Namibia. The study consists of 80 First year student teachers, 40 from Hifikepunye Pohamba campus, and 40 from Khomasdal campus. Quantitative approach was used to identify some of the factors that motivated students to choose teaching as a career. Factor Influencing Teaching choices scale (FIT scale: Watt & Richardson, 2007) was used to investigate the student teachers’ motivation and perception of teaching as a career. Analysis of the data reveals that most of the participants value making social contribution and shaping children’s future. Moreover, factors such as university admission requirements, gender, stereotype of different grade level specialization, finance and the general socio-cultural image of teaching as a career in Namibia, among others, shaped the participants’ motivations and perceptions.