Attrition and retention of Junior High School English teachers in the K.E.E.A municipality

Abstract

Education delivery at the basic school level cannot be carried out effectively without the required quality and quantity of teachers. This implies that the government and educational administrators must ensure that at any point in time, measures have been instituted to retain teachers. In view of this realization, an investigation was conducted in why teachers leave the service and how they can be retained in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Municipality. The research design for this study was the descriptive survey. A sample of 190 respondents made up English teachers and those who have left the service were selected for data collection but in the end 140 took part in the study. A self-administered questionnaire and interview guide were the instruments used for data collection. Data collected were edited and analyzed using the SPSS and descriptive statistical tools such as simple frequency and relative frequency tables and percentages. Results of the study indicated that lack of motivation and poor compensation and working conditions were the main causes of teacher attrition in Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Municipality. It was revealed that adequate retirement benefit for teachers will enable them to stay in the service. A good number of teachers also mentioned end of year bonuses to teachers and improved medical services for teachers and their dependents. Therefore, the study recommended that in order to retain teachers the government should put in place the necessary measures in the short to medium time to reverse the current rate at which teachers are leaving the classrooms.