A study of job satisfaction of heads of departments in public secondary schools in Embu district
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Date
2002Author
Njoka, Evangeline W
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The primary purpose of this study was to determine the levels of job satisfaction of
heads of departments in public secondary schools in Embu District, Eastern Province while
investigating the factors that caused satisfaction or dissatisfaction. The secondary purpose was
to establish whether there was any relationship between job satisfaction of heads of departments
as a dependent variable and selected demographic variables of gender, age, marital status,
academic qualifications, teaching experience and administrative experience.
Data were obtained by means of two types of questionnaires, which were distributed
to 61 heads of departments and 18 headteachers respectively. The return rates were 92% (56/61)
and 94% (17118) for the heads of departments and headteachers respectively. The data were
analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The inferential statistics employed
were t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), which were used to test the hypotheses of the
study as 0.05 level of significance. Content -analysis of free responses were used to add more
substance to statistical findings.
Slightly more than half the heads of departments (50.9%) were satisfied with their
work with the rest (49.1%) being either moderately or slightly satisfied. More male (57.1%) than
female (44.4%) heads of departments were found to be satisfied. Most of the dissatisfied HODs
were in guidance and counselling department. Comparing the school categories, the HODs in
the rural areas were found to be more satisfied (5l.3%) than the HODs in the urban areas
(16.7%). However the most satisfied were found to be in the rural/urban fringe (70%). Salary
level was ranked as the most important job factor towards motivation and job satisfaction with
the poor pay as the most dissatisfying job factor in the job of heads of departments.
The results obtained after testing the hypotheses indicated that there was no
significant difference between the computed means of the overall levels of job satisfaction and
the variables of age, academic qualifications and the teaching experience. There were however
significant differences realized between the means of the overall levels of job satisfaction and the
variables of gender and administrative experience.
Recommendation for improving the job satisfaction of heads of departments
included the suggestions that:
(i) The salary level of heads of departments be raised above that of other
teachers
(ii) The remaining four phases of the 200% salary rise promised by the Kenya
Government in 1997 be effected
(iii) A clearer and better job description of heads of departments be provided
(iv) More and frequent management courses be provided to heads of
departments through workshops and seminars especially to guidance and
counselling teachers
The study findings indicated that the headteachers were dissatisfied with the management
roles played by the heads of departments. In view of this, the researcher suggests that in future,
researchers might look at the expectations of the headteachers on the management roles of
heads of departments through a study of the headteachers perceptions of these roles.
More suggestions for further research include a study of merit criteria for purposes of
promotion of teachers to various job categories within the established organizational structure.
A study of the teaching occupation as a profession under unstable environment is also
suggested.
Citation
M.ED Thesis 2002Sponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
College of Education and External Studies, University of Nairobi,
Description
Master of Education Thesis
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [5981]