CAUSES FOR TEACHERS’ TURNOVER IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF EAST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE,ETHIOPHIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that contribute teachers to leave their teaching profession, in East Harerghe Zone of seven secondary school. A descriptive survey design was employed for this study. The major instruments used to collect the data were questionnaire, interview and documents. Data were collected from a total of 229 respondents, including 188 current teachers, 31 former teachers, 3 school supervisors and 7 principals. The data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Sampling techniques simple random sampling,snow ball and available sampling method were employed for selecting participants including 188 current and 27 former teachers to fill in questionnaires, and 3 supervisors, 3 principals and 4 former teachers were participnts for interview. Data analyses were made using descriptive statistical tools: frequency and percentages. The data analysis findings revealed that the major causes of teachers turnover were the harsh conditions to live in the area, the lack of infrastructures, inadequate salary, managerial factors, salary gap between teachers and non-teaching profession, the absence of the two years-salary increment and lack of incentives. School leaders and supervisors were professionally untrained in educational leadership. Teachers’ future intention to stay in the profession is frustrating. The government and stakeholders to minimize teacher’s turnover by improving services-salary increment should be considered to retain teachers in the profession. To improve the school management, the solution is to as sign professionally trained committed competent school leaders