Abstract
The research paper uncovers the determinants of individuals who choose to be teachers, questionnaires were used to produce evidence which was collected and analysed, some factors were identified as having influenced the choice of teaching as a career and this included social and economic factors. The study found out that key determinant of individual likelihood to choose a teaching career was family background, financial incentives such as the salary and other benefits, it was also evident that career choice was also motivated by other intrinsic rewards that individuals would gain in the process, also the perspective that low pay and low job status was not a factor that would deter those who wanted to chose a teaching career.
Introduction
The main aim of this research was to identify determinants of an individual to choose a teaching career. It examined the influencing factors of family background, the values that people attached to the teaching job and their own perceptions of their job. The research data was to be collected using a research questionnaire which was prepared and pre tested to check whether it was biased, the sample was randomly selected and the questionnaires were mailed to the correspondent wand after the questionnaire was returned data was compiled to undertake statistical inferences.
Policies measures to increase teachers assume that the number of teachers can be increased by increasing the rewards and salaries monetary incentives, this assumption is relevant in the short run, however it is evident that choice of career is largely influenced by socio economic factors and at the same time cultural background. The Social determinant differs from the other factors in that they are longer term while economic factors are only short term determinants.
Teacher’s career choice is also believed to have been influenced by what the individual’s value in the job and their perceptions of the teaching career, this research paper is therefore aimed at identifying these factors and how they have influenced career choice in the society.
Method
The study involved three respondents from a local school, the sample was randomly selected from the teachers list of the school and permission to undertake the research was obtained from relevant authorities, a mailed questionnaire was sent to the respondents who were expected to return the complete questionnaire within two days.
The questionnaire was to collect information regarding the individual’s background, education level and after the questionnaire was prepared it was pre tested to check whether it was biased, and after verification the questionnaires were mailed to the respondent and the information collected and compiled to undertake statistical inferences.
Findings
Of the three individuals interviewed two were married and one was single, one was female and two were male and for this reason the random sample was not gender biased and therefore the views of both gender was considered in the study. The study involved mailed questionnaires and all the questionnaires were returned and data was analysed
After the questionnaires were returned the data was analysed to determine whether the respondent had similar patterns in the determination of the career choice, some of the factors identified that had led to career choice was education level. From the data it was found out that the level of education played a major role in determining what the position the individual was to take in the society.
From the data collected it was found out that individuals chose the career due to influence of family members, in the case where family members were teachers the other members had a high possibility that they would take up the same role in the society. The respondents viewed the family members as role models and for this reason they would take up the same roles as their relatives.
The other factor that led to the choice of career is the education background, having achieved a certain level of education then the individual had no option but to become a teacher, for this reason therefore it is therefore considered that education and the type of courses undertaken play a major role in determining what role the individual was to play in the society.
After data was collected it was found that those respondents with less educated parents were more likely to choose a teaching career, this was as a result of the analysis of data aimed at collecting the family background of the individuals who were pursuing the teaching career. Analysis also showed that career decisions was found to be related to the course of studied at college or university. It was found that social science course studied led to individuals choosing a teaching career.
Other factors identified to have contributed to the choice of career include the possibility of sharing knowledge, job satisfaction and the length of holidays. On sharing the knowledge it was found out that teachers did not take this factor seriously, non of the teachers took the part of this part of their job as significant, the length of holidays associated with the career was also not an important factor in choice of career, however the job satisfaction part was an important factor in determining the choice of career, due to the individuals motivation and their love for the job they were satisfied with their job and their choice of career depended on the job satisfaction factor.
The respondent also reported to have been motivated by intrinsic factors which included job satisfaction and the interest in the teaching job; however they reported not to have been influenced by job status and salary. However the teachers reported that job security was a determining factor in the choice of career, teachers preferred to become teachers because of job security that is not evident in other types of jobs. Therefore in this case the respondent agreed to have been influenced by the level of job security associated with the career.
The respondents also agreed that the career was very rewarding; the respondents agreed that teaching was appealing to them and this is because they believed that the career offered them values they were looking for in a job. They reported that teaching was a rewarding career according to them than other careers available, this was in terms of financial rewards and other incentives associated with the career.
Training in teaching career and the pursuit of social science were also found to be contributing factors in the choice of career, the respondents reported to have a very positive experience when undertaking their education to become teachers, the positive experience at school offered an opportunity that led them to choose to become teachers due to the positive perception towards the education institution. For this reason therefore the personal experience at school is also a factor that influences the choice of career, positive experience of the individual in early years of school influenced them to choose the career. Negative experience at the early years of school will therefore lead to a negative perception towards the teaching career.
Despite the rewards associated with the teaching career the respondents Confirmed that teachers more likely to have heavy workload and also were underpaid for the services they offered, however this did not put them off from becoming teachers or even quitting their jobs due to the intrinsic motivation associated with the career. On job status the teachers viewed their job has a job with medium status, for this reason they did not feel inferior to speak about their career to other professionals.
The respondents also confirmed that when choosing the career as teachers they were well aware of the financial rewards associated with the career, however the financial incentives did not change their plans, although this made it easier make decisions to become a teacher, for this reason therefore the financial incentives and length of holidays were a determining factor in the choice of a career and this helped in the ease of decision making.
Training bursaries was also a determining factor in the choice of career to pursue the research proved that one of the other influential factors to choose the career is the availability of education grants and bursaries; these were effective in attracting individuals into the teaching career. The availability of training salaries also made it easier for the respondents the give up their other options to pursue the career, for this reason economic factors are seen to play a major Role in the determination of any career.
Discussion
Among the factors that were considered in the study include The Chance to share knowledge, Job satisfaction, Length of holidays, Chance to continue interest in own subject, Job security, Salary, Working conditions, Status of job, and Promotion opportunities and the following were the results:
Sharing knowledge
Only two of the respondents agreed to have joined the teaching career as a way by which they would share their knowledge to younger generations, this view shows that the choice of career does not necessarily depend on the person to serve the people or organisation.
Job satisfaction
According to the respondents it is clear that job satisfaction that determines the choice of career, if there is job satisfaction in the teaching career then there is a high possibility that more people will prefer to join the teaching career.
Job status
The respondents confirm that teaching as a career has medium status, for this reason people do not join the career because of job status although job status also plays a role in the determination whether a certain individual will join the career.
Chance to continue interest in own subject
People will join the career because of their interest in the career, this is to show that career choice will also depend on the interest of the individual and what the individual wishes to do, for this reason therefore it is clear that an individual will chose a career because of interest.
Job security
Job security is also a major determinant of career choice, people will not choose a career with low job security with a high possibility of a lay off, due to the job security associated with the teaching career then more people prefer teaching over other career option.
Working conditions
The working condition of a career is also an important factor in determining career choice, when there exit good working conditions in a career then more people will choose the career, in this study however the working condition identified is the overworking of the teachers, they anonymously agree that they are over worked and for this reason this might be a draw backing choosing this career.
Promotional opportunities
Promotions in the workplace are made depending on performance. Promotions in most cases will occur and at the same time the salary will be increased, for this reason the probability of promotion in a career will attract more individuals.
Length of holidays
Teacher’s career is associated with long holidays, depending on the findings from this study this is one of the determining factor of the teachers career, for this reason therefore this can be seen as a motivating factor for individuals to choose this career.
Having discussed the findings of this study it is clear that career choice is determined by various factors and not monetary rewards in the workplace, however despite having identified many factors influencing career choice there is a need to undertake study in other types of career and find out what influences this choice, there is also a need to undertake a study that involves a large sample size so that we can compare the result of this study, this will also help in determining any bias in this study.
Conclusion
This study does not focus on the financial incentives that lead to the choice of career; the research proved that career decisions depended on the values that the individual attaches to the job and their perceptions to the teaching career. The paper reveals that family background and job satisfaction play a role in the career decision making. The study focuses on the role played by factors such family background, financial incentives such as the salary and other benefits that key are determinant of individual likelihood to choose a teaching career.
It is evident that career choice is motivated by intrinsic rewards that individuals would gain in the process, also the perspective that low pay and low job status was not a factor that would deter those who wanted to choose a teaching career. The respondent viewed their career as one that held medium job status and therefore the status had no significance in their choice of career.
The choice of career is also on the influence from family members, families where members are teachers influenced other members of the same family to become teachers, family background therefore played a major in the determination of career choice, The other factor that led to the choice of career is the education background, having achieved a certain level of education then the individual become teachers as a result, this include the type of courses undertaken which would determine the role the individual was to play in the society.
The possibility of sharing knowledge in a teaching carer did not take this determine the career choice, however individuals motivation and intrinsic benefits from the job did play a role in career choice these intrinsic factors include job satisfaction and the interest in the teaching job, job security was also another factor found to be important in this study where all the respondents agreed to have been influenced by the level of job security associated with the career.
References
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Heafford M. and Jennison B. (1998) Destined to teach: case study of graduate in education, Journal of Education for Teaching, 24 (2) page 147 to 164.
Johnson M and Birkeland E (2003) Pursuing Sense of Success, Journal of American Educational Research 40 (3) page 581 to 617.