Desirability Mechanisms and Teachers’ Job Retention in Private Secondary Schools in Delta State

Abstract

This study examined desirability mechanism and teachers job retention in private secondary schools in Delta State. It was guided by two research questions and one null hypothesis. This study was a correlational survey that employed the ex-post facto design. The sample for this study was 1533 and it is made up of 588 proprietors/principals and 945 teachers in Delta State private secondary schools selected from 12 Local Government Areas. The sampling procedure used was a stratified random sampling technique. The instrument that was used for the study was a self-developed questionnaire titled ‘Desirability Mechanism Questionnaire’ (DMQ) and Teachers Job Retention Questionnaire’ (DMTJRQ). The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach Alpha test of reliability and yielded 0.96. The data was statistically analyzed using mean scores and standard deviation to answer the research questions while, Pearson Product Moment Statistics was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The study found out that desirability mechanism for teachers’ job retention includes; training and career development, allowances, consideration for promotion, job security and pension. It was recommended that principals/proprietors should encourage training and career development for teachers. Also, principals/ proprietors should improve pay package, pay allowances, provide job security and consider teachers for promotion as these have impact on job retention. The study affirmed that desirability mechanism such as training and career development for teachers, pay allowances and consider teachers for promotion influence teachers’ job retention in private secondary schools in Delta State.