An Investigation of Factors Contributing to Teachers' Job Satisfaction

Abstract

This study examines by questionnaire and interview whether certain factors are related to satisfaction levels in 155 school teachers. It was found that teachers scoring lower on the satisfaction scale placed greater emphasis on the use of new technologies and of teaching aids in general, and taught larger classes than did those scoring higher on the satisfaction scales. Those scoring lower on the satisfaction scale also had unfulfilled expectations, wanting more involvement on the part of pupils and felt that their own influence on those pupils should be greater. It is also true that some teachers who had higher levels of satisfaction were frustrated by feeling not well enough paid and from being overly restricted by their superiors. It is clear that there is much scope to improve the satisfaction levels of teachers by training, and to eliminate, by good management, factors which can frustrate and irritate unnecessarily. The need to keep class sizes as small as possible, and also to train teachers in the skills needed to involve their pupils in their classroom activities was emphasized.