Factors influencing retention of teachers in public secondary schools in Tanzania: the case of Selected Public Secondary Schools in Ilala District in Dar es Salaam Region.

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the factors influencing retention of teachers in public secondary schools (PSS) in Tanzania, focusing on Dar es Salaam city. It was guided by three research tasks, namely: to find out factors that make teachers to remain in Public secondary Schools in Tanzania despite the existing problems; to find out problems facing teachers who remain in Public secondary Schools in Tanzania and to examine the type and adequacy of government strategies for retaining teachers in its schools. It comprised 56 sample respondents who involved 6 heads of schools and 50 teachers who were selected purposively and randomly. The study employed mainly qualitative approach. Descriptive and analytical research designs were employed. Data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions and documentary review. The study findings revealed that, teachers mainly remain in PSS due to individual (intrinsic) reasons such as opportunity to get new skills, job freedom to act, and interpersonal relations. Extrinsic factor was job security. Other factors forced teachers to remain in PSS, these include, fear of taking risk in a new job, difficult to learn policies of new working organization and difficult to find a job. Findings also revealed the problems facing teachers in public secondary schools as poor working condition such as congested staff-rooms and classes, poor classes and offices facilities, lack of decent houses, delay or sometimes lack of allowances such as subsistence, disturbance overtime and vacation as well as lack of funds in schools for Motivation/praising of teachers at school level. Findings showed that, there was only one step which the government had implemented for retention of teachers. This was by raising salary for teachers. Findings showed that, the steps taken by the government were not satisfactory in terms of salary and other rewards. The study recommended that the government should undertake participatory measures with research centers so as to incorporate the identified retention factors in its education policy. The study recommends further research on retention of teachers to be conducted to identify other factors critical to retention of teachers in public secondary schools in Tanzania.