The Influence Of Free Education Policy On Motivation Of Teachers: A Case Of Public Secondary Schools In Dodoma Municipality

ABSTRACT 

This dissertation reports the findings of the study on the influence of free education policy decision on teachers‘ motivation in secondary schools. The study was conducted in four public secondary schools of Dodoma Municipal, Tanzania. Guided by Herzberg theory of motivation and a conceptual framework the study employed a qualitative approach and a case study design. The study used different tools for data collection i.e interviews, focus group discussions, observations and documentary review, data were generated from 49 informants who were sampled through purposive and snowball sampling. These included the DEO, heads of schools and heads of departments, who were sampled purposively, and teachers and students who were sampled using the snowball sampling technique. The qualitative analysis of the data generated revealed that the Free Education Policy in Tanzania demotivates teachers. It was further revealed that teachers were not ready to implement this policy due to lack of awareness of the policy and the challenges they faced during the policy implementation. The challenges which teachers faced include lack of enough fund, poor working environment, interference of politicians during implementation, overcrowded classes, the dictatorship of leaders towards them and poor cooperation from parents to mention a few. Stakeholders gave their views on how free education could motivate teachers to work effectively. The views included the need to increase funds for policy implementation, improved teachers work environment, awareness creation to parents, engagement of teachers in policy and decision making, avoiding interfere of politics in education issues, establishment of education board to deals with education issues and the need for research before introducing any implementation of any policy. This study will be of a great help to the policy makers when formulating new policies the issues of teachers‘ motivation will be considered. It will also add knowledge to educational managers on how to motivate teachers. The study is also expected to improve practice in education.