Determinants of career progression of tutors in public primary teachers’ training colleges in Kenya
Abstract
The study investigated the determinants of tutors’ career progression in Public
Teacher Training Colleges (PTTCs) in Kenya. Tetra Link Taylor and Associates
while conducting a Customer Satisfaction survey for Teachers’ Service
Commission in Kenya in 2009 found that tutors were discouraged by low
remuneration and stagnation in one job group while Siringi the following year
confirmed that tutors wanted accelerated career progression. Previous studies
have addressed stagnation of tutors in post primary institutions they have evaded
the concept of career progression of tutors as a possible determinant of quality
training Primary Teacher Training Colleges (PTTCs) which was addressed in this
study. This study was purely a descriptive survey with 264 tutors randomly
sampled from sixteen Public Primary Teacher Training Colleges. Sixteen
principals, one staffing officer and one Human resource officer were purposively
sampled due to their expertise in teacher management. Data was collected using a
questionnaire for tutors and interview schedule for principals and TSC officers. A
total of 207 respondents returned the questionnaire out of 264 representing 78.4 %
return rate which was acceptable. Chi-square, One way ANOVA and linear
regression analysis (at α = 0.05 significant level) were used to test the relationship
between each variable and tutors’ career progression. The study found that tutors’
age, gender and college teaching experience were not significantly related to
tutors’ career progression. Tutors’ qualifications, Tutors’ career aspiration,
adherence to set career progression policy guidelines and exposure to professional
development were positively related to tutors’ career progression. This implied
that TSC need to weigh both individual characteristics and institution
characteristics in order to effectively implement tutors career progression policies.
The study concluded that there is need to systematically address factors found to
be influencing career progression of tutors in Kenya to stem tutor dissatisfaction
and possible attrition. As such, there is need for Teachers Service Commission
(TSC) to disseminate more effectively career progression related policies to
PTTCs for tutors to appreciate the inter linkages between sector policies for
effective career progression. The study recommended that there is need to revise
the existing tutors’ code of conduct and possibly policy document on
identification, selection, appointment and deployment of post primary institutions
to have a separate one for Primary Teacher Training Colleges (PTTCs) as a step
to harmonize tutors policies across the country. There is also need to increase the
number of appointive positions in PTTCs to provide tutors with more chances of
career progression.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [5979]