Factors Influencing Attrition and Retention of Teachers in the Senior High Schools in the Asante Akim Central Municipality

ABSTRACT

The research was carried out to identify factors that contribute to teacher attrition and retention of Senior High School teachers in the Asante Akim Central Municipality. It was geared towards examining factors that affect the retention of teachers in the municipality and to find out the motivational packages available to retain teachers in the municipality. The descriptive research design was used for the study. The target population of the study was made up of all Senior High School Teachers in the Asante Akim Central Municipality, sixty (60) Senior High School teachers were randomly selected from three (3) senior High Schools for the study using the stratified sampling method. Closed-ended questionnaire (Likert-Scale) was used to collect the data for the study. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data and among the factors that were identified as influencing attrition were lack of suitable accommodation, lack of teachers' involvement in decision making and low financial assistance from the schools. Respondents stated that motivational packages such as study leave with pay and accommodation facilities should be made available to all teachers to retain them. The findings suggested that the Municipal Assemblies should sponsor more indigenous women to return to the classroom and the extension of Ghana Education Service and Municipal motivational packages to meet large number of teachers. Teachers in the municipality should be encouraged by the municipal education directorate to take distance education programmes.