The teaching profession status and its implication on teachers’ work commitment in government primary schools in Tanga municipality, Tanzania

This study explored the current status of the teaching profession and its implication on teachers’ work commitment in government primary schools in Tanga municipality. The objectives of the study were to explore the current status of the teaching profession, the reasons behind the perceptions on the current status towards the teaching profession and its effects on teachers’ work commitment. It also sought respondents’ views on how the status of the teaching profession could be maintained/restored. The study adopted a qualitative research approach informed by descriptive-case study design. The population of the study consisted of Chief District Education Quality Assurer (CDEQA), Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) Secretary, Heads of Government Primary Schools (HGPSs), Government primary school teachers (GPSTs), parents and pupils. The sample size comprised of 86 respondents selected through purposive sampling, convenience sampling and stratified sampling techniques. Data were collected using interviews, focused group discussions (FGDs) and documentary reviews, and were analysed using thematic data analysis. The findings revealed that regardless of the recent government initiatives; the teaching profession was still perceived as a low status profession. The reasons for that perception were categorized into five factors, namely; systemic, economic, environmental, social and individual related factors. The study further revealed that the low status of the teaching profession affected teachers’ work commitment including lack of punctuality and creativity. Consequently, there was ineffective teaching including poor teachers’ preparation of teaching notes and the lesson plans. Furthermore, the findings revealed that the teaching profession could be restored by improving teachers’ remunerations, working and living condition, formation of teaching profession body as well as improvement of management structure in the education system. The study concluded that low status of the teaching profession has a corresponding effect on teachers’ commitment at work. Thus, low status was associated with high level of demoralization which in turn affected teachers’ work commitment. The immediate effect is poor academic performance by pupils whereas the long term one is having incompetent and less skilled pupils who are less productive in the development of the society in particular and nation at large. The study recommended that the government should provide comparable salaries to all professions with similar qualifications. This would help the teaching profession to be respected as other professions thereby influencing teachers’ work commitment. It was also recommended that the government should set short, medium and long term plans for restoring the status of the teaching profession. Thirdly mechanisms such as a profession body ought to be put in place to ensure that teachers adhere to profession code of conduct thereby creating a more positive image of the teaching profession. It was further recommended that future study should evaluate the existing and possible strategies by the government to restore the status of the teaching profession.