Challenges of adjusting to the new environment: A case of newly appointed and posted teachers in Kampala Secondary Schools

Abstract

The study set to establish challenges of adjusting to the environment by newly appointed and posted teachers, a case Kampala Secondary schools. The problem of the study was uncertainty and anxiety in the lives of newly appointed and posted teachers as they adjust to the new environment, manage discipline and adjust to the teachers’ code of conduct. The study was carried out along the following objectives; the new environment affects adjustment of newly appointed and posted teachers, discipline management measures of newly appointed and posted teachers enable them to overcome the indiscipline of students and the teachers’ code of conduct helps in the adjustment of the newly posted and appointed teachers.

The study was conducted using a self administered questionnaire and interview guide. The study was analysed using descriptive statistics of the views of the respondents. Most of the frequency tables were drawn with the help of the Statistical Package for Social scientists 11.0 (SPSS 11.0) programme. It was analysed along the research questions that guided the study.

The findings of the study indicated that the teachers encountered the challenges of school routines, relationships with colleagues, lack of finances and attractive incentives and need for new orientation. Discipline management measures of newly appointed and posted teachers enabled them to overcome the indiscipline of students by building of the students’ characters, establishing good relationships with the students and forwarding undisciplined students to administration. Lastly, the study found out that newly appointed and posted teachers have to adjust to the teacher’s code of conduct, it is easy and proper to maintain professional attitudes towards colleagues and relate with the parents of the students in the monitoring of the students progress.

From the study, it was concluded that, the new environment affects adjustment of newly appointed and posted teachers because they encounter new challenges in the environment to which they are posted, involvement of newly appointed and posted teachers in the management of discipline in schools promotes discipline and the code of conduct is important in helping the new teachers adjust to the new environment.

From the study, the following recommendations were made; school administrators should establish a better work environment for newly appointed and posted teachers to easily adjust. This can be through routines that are reasonable, putting in place residences for teachers or availing them transport. School administrators need to help newly appointed and posted teachers in the implementation through attending to the indiscipline cases forwarded them, making them meet talk to parents of the undisciplined students, making the students write apologies, support them in counselling the students and enforcing school rules and regulations. And the newly appointed and posted teachers should be accessed the teachers’ code of conduct. They have to be made aware of the teachers’ code of conduct, be constantly reminded about it and be given a copy such that they understand the requirements of the teaching profession.