Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction Among Primary School Teachers In Dodoma Municipality, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

The study attempted to assess the factors influencing job satisfaction among primary school Teachers in Dodoma Municipality. In Tanzania, the role that primary school teachers play in providing quality education has been recognized consistently in government documents. However, concerns about the quality of primary education in the country persist. One factor that has had a significant impact on education quality is job dissatisfaction among primary school teachers. The study was conducted in Dodoma Municipality as a case study where 8 public and private primary schools were selected. Sampling procedures included both purposive and systematic random sampling. Data was collected using documentary review, interview, and questionnaire survey whereby closed-ended and opened-ended questions were used as survey instruments. Study findings indicate that there have been many complaints among primary school teachers based on working and living conditions: poor remuneration, promotions, and irregular salary payments, lack of proper housing, and inadequate teaching facilities. The study also found that working conditions, human resource management, and remuneration to be the key factors influencing job satisfaction among primary school teachers. Policy point of view, the study shows that efforts in promoting the quality of primary education in Tanzania are unlikely to succeed unless the teachers'‟ job satisfaction is addressed. Policies should take into account the difficulties under which teachers live and work. A comparative study on factors that affect job satisfaction among urban and rural primary school teachers in Tanzania needs to be considered as an area for further research.