Teacher motivation and pupils perfomance in Kiteto District primary schools in Tanzania

The study sought to explore the effects of teachers’ salaries, working environment and school leadership style on pupils’ academic performance in Kiteto District primary schools. The study involved 69 teachers, 200 pupils, one District director and 2 MOEVT officials. Data collection was made by using questionnaires, interviews, focused group discussions, and documentary review. Findings indicated that majority of teachers were dissatisfied with salaries they were paid, pupils’ performance in national standard VII examination, promotion procedures, opportunity for in-service training, working environment and leadership style. Moreover, findings indicated that these factors contributed to pupils’ poor performance in standard VII national examination. In due regard, majority of teachers were unhappy with their housing arrangements, benefits, workload and status within their communities. Such poor living conditions have, over time, seriously eroded many teachers’ motivation to carry out their teaching and non –teaching roles in an acceptable manner. It is strongly recommended that there is a need to review teachers’ salary, improve their living and working conditions, establish an open system of in service training and provide sufficient teaching and learning materials.