Exploring causes of teacher turnover and its implications for private primary schools in Addis Ababa

Abstract

Teacher turnover is a significant issue that negatively affects the teaching and learning process. This study focused on assessing how teacher turnover affects the qulity of education provided by private elementary schools in Addis Ababa. Its primary aim was to investigate the factors leading to teacher attrition and how this impacts the quality of the teaching process across the sample sixteen private primary schools in the city. Data was gathered from nine different groups involved in the study namely current teachers, ex- teachers, school principals, supervisors, woreda education heads, Parent-Teacher Student Association (PTSA) members, private school boards and association members, and educational experts from the Ethiopian Ministry of Education (MoE) and Addis Ababa Education Bureau (AAEB). Questionnaires were distributed to 295 current teachers randomly chosen from a total of 874 teachers currently working at the selected primary schools. From 389 former teachers, 76 were randomly selected using a simple random sampling method. Interviews were conducted with 3 principals, 3 woreda education office heads, and 3 supervisors from each of the selected schools and woredas, as well as with 2 educational experts from the MoE and AAEB. Focus group discussions were carried out with 15 selected PTSA members, 10 board members, and 10 association members. The data obtained from the questionnaires were analysed using inferential statistics with SPSS software and percentages, while the data gathered from interviews and focus group discussions was subjected to qualitative analysis. The findings revealed that the main reasons for teacher turnover included a lack of motivation for the teaching profession, an unfriendly working environment, ineffective administrative systems, low salaries and benefits, as well as issues related to student behaviour and discipline. Teacher turnover adversely affects students' to sit for examinations without having completed all subject materials. Based on these findings, the study proposed several strategies to reduce teacher turnover by fostering a more supportive work environment, decreasing teaching loads, ensuring adequate benefits, promoting professional growth, and cultivating a positive school culture. By addressing these issues, schools can create a more stable educational environment that ultimately benefits students and the broader community in Addis Ababa. This research provided actionable recommendations for policymakers and school administrators to mitigate turnover rates and enhance educational outcomes.