An investigation of the influence of teachers’ job satisfaction on effective teaching in public secondary schools in Tanzania: a case of Temeke municipality

The educational sector plays a vital role in socio- economic development of a country. This study attempts to assess the influence of teachers’ job satisfaction on effective teaching in public secondary schools in Tanzania a case of Temeke Municipality. It focuses on the relative importance of job satisfaction factors and their impacts on the overall job satisfaction of teachers. The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of teachers’ job satisfaction on effective teaching in secondary schools in Tanzania. Specifically, the study aimed to find out whether or not teachers’ characteristics such as gender, age, marital status, qualification and working experience, promotional opportunities, salary and fringe benefits affect teachers’ job satisfaction, to ascertain school environment and processes that influence teachers’ job satisfaction, and to ascertain job satisfaction factors which determine teachers’ retention and reduce attrition of teachers in schools. A sample of 47 respondents from three schools was obtained using stratified random sampling and purposive sampling procedures. Data were collected through interview, focus groups discussion, documentary review and observation. The data collected were analyzed through content analysis technique. The findings revealed that teachers’ characteristics affect their job satisfaction. Teachers’ job satisfaction was influenced by working environment, friendly working atmosphere among teachers, important work assigned to them, given responsibilities to utilize their skills and knowledge and students’ motivation to learn. Lastly, the study disclosed that salary, staff promotion and fringe benefits, opportunity for professional growth and appropriate income relative to qualification were the factors determine retention of teachers’ in the job. The majority of teachers indicated low satisfaction with these dimensions. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training should bring back the status of teaching profession by solving different problems facing education system in Tanzania. The MoEVT and other education stakeholders should increase teachers’ salary; improve their promotion criteria and fringe benefits, provide enough teaching and learning materials and school infrastructures like desks, text books, and train more teachers and improve their working condition in order to enhance their job satisfaction and effective teaching.