The Influence Of School Administration On Teachers Transfer In Rural Community Secondary Schools: A Case Of Kondoa District

ABSTRACT

This study explored the influence of school administration on teachers’ transfer in rural community secondary schools in Kondoa District. The study involved 37 participants which was composed of 28 teachers (18 males and 10 females), 7 Heads of School and 1 DSEO and 1 SLO. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were applied in selecting secondary schools. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed with the help of a cross-sectional survey research design. In this study interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussion were employed in data collection. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and presented in tabular form. Content analysis was used for qualitative data to analyse unities and sub unities in the study. The findings reveal that social, economic and family factors are the most reliable factors determining teachers transfer from rural schools. These factors are either the pull or push factors for teachers transfer from the respective schools. It was also found that teachers ask for transfer based on family issues like following spouse, staying closer with their aged parents or for sickness. However, it was rarely reported that teachers seek for transfer from rural areas to urban areas due to poor working conditions in the rural areas or for economic opportunities available in urban areas. These findings imply that teachers’ transfer in the rural community secondary schools is influenced by the school administrations, leadership styles and management. The study recommends that there should be a mechanism established to guarantee that both stakeholders and the government cooperate to ensure teachers’ needs and wants including supportive teaching and learning environment, provision of lunch at school for teachers and teachers’ housing schemes are put in place. The government under the ministry concern needs to capacitate school administrators with appropriate instructional leadership skills and management for sustainable rural community secondary schools.