Factors Influencing the Attrition of Agriculture Teachers in Secondary Schools in Botswana

Journal of Instructional Psychology, March, 1999 by S.K. Subair, B.B. Mojaphoko

A. Remuneration Factors Associated
with Attrition                         X      SD    Rank

Agriculture teachers leave teaching
because:

 1. Salary is low                     4.75   1.44     5
 2. Pay criteria used by teaching     4.25   1.16     8
    service in not appropriate
 3. Pay in relation to others         3.99   1.72    14
    in similar jobs is low
 4. Pay compared to other in          3.48   1.60    19
    neighbouring countries is low
 5. Lack of benefits                  4.95   1.41     2
 6. No allowance paid to              5.09   1.46     1
    agriculture teachers for
    working after hours

Overall Mean                          4.41   1.47

B. Interpersonal Relation factors
associated with attrition              X      SD    Rank

Agriculture teachers leave
teaching because:

 7. Poor interpersonal relations      2.28   1.31    42
    among colleagues
 8. Poor interpersonal relations      2.71   1.53    33
    with headteachers
 9. Poor interpersonal relations      2.70   1.47    34
    with Senior Education Officers
10. Agriculture teachers are          2.11   1.49    43
    undermined by students
11. Agriculture teachers are          2.29   1.44    41
    undermined by other teachers
12. Agriculture teachers are          1.93   1.25    44
    undermined by the community
13. Community pressures are high      2.45   1.45    37
    for agriculture teachers

Overall Mean                          2.35   1.42

C. Advancement factors associated      X      SD    Rank
with attrition

Agriculture teachers leave teaching
because:

14. Lack of promotion                 4.01   1.67    12
15. Lack of inservice training        3.72   1.73    16
    for agriculture teachers
16. There are limited opportunities   4.03   1.79    11
    of further studies
17. There is high demand of           4.24   1.45     9
    agriculture teachers in
    other sectors
18. Lack of study leave               3.21   1.71    23

Overall Mean                          3.84   1.67

D. Professional factors associated     X      SD    Rank
   with attrition

Agriculture teachers leave teaching
because:

19. Lack of challenge in              2.81   1.72    31
    agriculture
20. Agriculture teachers lack         1.45   0.87    48
    confidence in subject matter
21. Agriculture teachers spend more   1.71   0.91    47
    time on students problems
    than in teaching
22. Students lack interest in         3.44   1.66    20
    agriculture
23. No formal recognition of good     4.18   1.57    10
    performance for agriculture
    teachers
24. Frustration due to poor results   2.87   1.46    29
25. Lack of logistical support        3.51   1.62    18

Overall Mean                          2.85   1.40

E. Working conditions associated
with attrition                         X      SD    Rank

Agriculture teachers leave teaching
because:

26. Heavy teaching loads              4.51   1.52     6
27. Insufficient resources for        4.25   1.52     7
    teaching agriculture
28. Inadequate preparation time for   3.17   1.37    24
    agriculture teachers
29. Agriculture teachers attend       3.99   1.66    13
    class activities after normal
    working hours
30. There is drudgery in              3.14   1.55    24
    agriculture
31. There are attractive conditions   4.89   1.06     3
    of service in other sectors
    of economy
32. Class sizes are not ideal for     4.79   1.46     4
    practical agriculture
33. Too much paperwork in teaching    3.57   1.61    17
    agriculture
34. Lack of morale in agriculture     3.14   1.64    25
    teachers
35. Agriculture teachers do not       3.93   1.84    15
    enjoy benefits enjoyed by
    other public officers
36. School holidays are short         2.82   1.68    30
    compared to other similar jobs

Overall Mean                          3.79   1.53

F. Administrative factors              X      SD
   associated with attrition

Agriculture teachers leave teaching
because:

37. There is a lack of awareness      2.43   1.27    38
    regarding school policies
    and rules
38. Agriculture teachers are not      2.90   1.54    28
    involved in design of the
    curriculum
39. Agriculture teachers are not      2.64   1.43    35
    involved in school decision
    making
40. There is unfair periodic          3.25   1.68    22
    transfer of agriculture
    teachers
41. There is political interference   2.58   1.54    36
    in education
42. Students' subject combinations    3.37   1.85    21
    render them no future in
    agriculture

Overall Mean                          2.86   1.55

G. Autonomy factors associated         X      SD    Rank
   with attrition

Agriculture teachers leave teaching
because:

43. They are not given freedom to     2.41   1.41    34
    express their beliefs
    concerning agriculture
    operation
44. They are not given freedom to     2.68   1.44    39
    take part in solving
    department problems
45. They are not given the freedom    1.87   1.06    46
    to discipline students during
    practicals
46. They are not given the freedom    1.91   1.11    45
    to discipline students during
    class hours
47. They are not given the freedom    2.94   1.55    27
    to use their descretion
    to dispose agriculture produce
48. Students are not given freedom    2.33   1.35    40
    to use their knowledge
    in agriculture at school

Overall Mean                          2.86   1.55