Factors that influence teacher attrition, a case study of public junior high schools in the Kwadaso Circuit of the Kwadaso Municipality

Abstract

The study was conducted to examine the factors that influence teacher attrition in public junior high schools in the Kwadaso circuit. Descriptive survey design using quantitative approach was employed for the study. The target population of the study consisted of all the 161 teachers and head teachers in the nine public junior high schools in the Kwadaso circuit. A proportionate random sampling technique was used to select 113 respondents from the nine public junior high schools in the Kwadaso circuit for the study. Questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The study revealed that some of the causes of teacher attrition in public junior high schools in the Kwadaso circuit included, low salary of teachers, lack of professional development opportunities and long distance of school from home among other factors. Further, the study found out that compensation and other benefits in the school helped to create a supportive environment for teachers to maximize their potential and to remain in the profession and that students achievement are improved due to improved teaching strategies. Again, the study revealed that the provision of conducive and congenial working environment and training and development opportunities. It is therefore recommended that the Ghana Education Service of the Kwadaso Municipality should provide teachers with congenial working environment to enable them have the interest and satisfaction to work and remain in the teaching service.