Exploring the effects of motivation on employee retention a case study of selected basic schools in the Asante Akim Central Municipality

Abstract

The study examined the effects of motivational packages on the retention of employees of Ghana Education Service. Among the issues studied were that it identified and evaluated the current motivational packages at GES, examined the effects of the various motivational packages on employees retention at GES and the factors that accounted for teachers leaving the teaching field. The study was based on the use of questionnaires as data collection instrument. Primary and secondary data were also used. In selecting respondents, the researcher employed simple random sampling technique to select respondents for the study. In all eighty (80) respondents were selected for the study. The study revealed the current motivational packages available to staff of Ghana Education Service include promotions, recognition, maternity and paternity leave with pay and study leave with pay. The study showed most respondents were not happy with the motivational packages at Ghana Education Service and were not convinced that the available packages will help retain staff on their jobs. The study revealed that teachers have been leaving the teaching field as a result of low salaries, poor condition of service, inadequate career development, poor working conditions and ineffective leadership in the service. Among the recommendations were that GES embark on training and development programmes for its staff at no cost to motivate staff and above all retain them. Training and development policy in the service should be clearly spell out when and how staff should be trained and developed for the benefit of the service. In doing this, it is being recommended that views of staff be solicited so as come out with a clear and equitable training and development policy for employees.