The Influence of Teachers’ Job Satisfaction and Commitment in Teaching Public Primary Schools in Tanzania

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the influence of teachers’ job satisfaction and commitment in teaching public primary schools in Tanzania. Teachers were believed to influence the current practice of school performance in many ways and researchers were interested in examining their motivational aspects that influence job performance in urban public schools. The study employed a sample of 60 public primary school teachers of Temeke district in Dar es Salaam, city. The methods used in data collection were interviews, questionnaire and field observations. Thematic and descriptive analyses were used in the study. The findings indicated that school authorities need to develop strategies to deal with the needs of those teachers who experience less job satisfaction and commitment. Further, it showed that a lot of teachers’ dissatisfactions were influenced by a number of aspects including ‘working hours, teachers’ accommodation, teachers’ transport and the burden of the student-teacher ratio. The study recommended that school administrators should demonstrate preparedness to address research on a number of issues and present them to the respective authorities including the government for future interventions. Such issues included the consideration of non-monetary forms of support to provide teachers’ motivation in their salaries, provision of a mentoring system to support teachers in working conditions, providing housing and transport, improving teachers performance appraisal systems by ensuring adherence to the principles of the Open Appraisal system (OPRAS), establishing plans for training and development plans of employees to enhance their capacity in their career. These issues were considered to be a source of improving teachers’ psychological health and a means to recognize and reward their good performance at work.

Keywords: Teachers, job satisfaction, teacher commitment, teacher motivation, urban primary schools