PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES OF ACADEMIC STAFF SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT: THE CASE OF AYSAITA TEACHERS TRAINING COLLEGE, AFAR REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to identify the Practices and Challenges of Academic Staff Selection and Recruitment: The Case of Aysaita Teachers Training in Afar Region. To do so, a descriptive survey design and mixed method were employed to make the study manageable. The college is the only teachers training college in the region and it is manageable for the researcher to take all respondents purposely. The subjects of the study were 9 college administrators and 95 teachers. The major instrument used to collect the necessary data was questionnaire while, interview and documents analysis were the auxiliary instruments of the data collection through questionnaire. Qualitative and quantitative methods were employed to analyze data. The data collected through close ended questions from respondents were analyzed quantitatively using frequencies and percentages mean value of each item. The result revealed that the college lacked an appropriate planning of the academic staff needs mainly due to the lack of managers, the approach used mostly by the authorities in charge of recruitment and selection of the academic staff was found to be external approach. Cumulative G.P.A and academic qualification were found to be the prime selection criteria of instructors. The findings also revealed that assignment in the colleges was carried out mostly on the basic of level of qualification and subject specialization. Concerning teaching assignment, there were unequal distribution of load with same teachers having been over-burdened including extra role as a manager and others under-utilized with minimum credit of working load. The mechanisms employed to promote development of positive attitude and continued professional development of academic staff was found to be unsatisfactory. The college administrative officials recommended a plan for recruiting and selecting of academic staff, a more comprehensive and transparent criteria of recruitment, selection and assignment of staff as well as the provision of opportunities for teachers to participate in short-term, in-service training and further education programs.