Career development and teachers’ job satisfaction : a case study of government secondary schools in Karu Town, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined Career Development and Teachers’ Job Satisfaction: A Case Study of Government Secondary Schools in Karu town, Abuja, Nigeria. The study answered the following questions: What Influence Does Training have on Teachers‟ Job Satisfaction in Government Secondary Schools in Karu, Abuja? How Does Continuing Professional Education Influence Teachers’ Job Satisfaction in Government Secondary Schools in Karu, Abuja? How Does Performance Appraisal Influence Teachers’ Job Satisfaction in Government Secondary Schools in Karu, Abuja? The study was guided by Herzberg’s Two Factor theory, which is focused on the fulfilment of needs due to their interest on how to satisfy employees. The theory is also referred as, Motivation and Hygiene factors theory, MHT. The study adopted a case study research design and was mainly qualitative in nature. The study population involved thirteen respondents. The study sample included two Principals, two Vice Principals, eight Teachers and one government education official. The study revealed that Training programs enable teachers to acquire and apply new skills; the study also revealed that, in as much as teachers like Continuing Professional Education (CPE), it is not easily available to many of them; the study further revealed that, there is delayed Performance Appraisal (PA) of teachers and yet it is from this appraisal that teachers need to apply and secure permission for Continuing Professional Education thus this frustrates many teachers. The study concluded that, Career Development activities such as Training, Continuing Professional Education and Performance Appraisal Influence Teachers‟ Job Satisfaction. The study recommended that, government and other relevant stakeholders in the education sector should endeavor to expose teachers in government secondary schools to Career Development programmes that would enhance teachers‟ Job Satisfaction as well as, inculcate in teachers a spirit for lifelong learning.