TEACHER RETENTION STRATEGIES AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PRIVATE CATHOLIC SPONSORED SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF ELDORET DIOCESE, KENYA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to find out the teacher retention strategies that were in place and as well the academic performance among private Catholic secondary schools in Eldoret diocese in the Metropolitan See of Kisumu, Kenya. The study aimed at bringing back the glory of Catholic schools by enlightening the management on the teacher retention strategies in place so as to enhance better academic performance in addition to holistic formation of learners. The research questions for the study included: What teacher retention strategies exist in Catholic Private Secondary Schools? What’s the nature of relationship between teacher retention strategies and academic performance in Private Catholic Secondary Schools’? What measures can be put in place to ensure teacher retention and academic performance in Private Catholic Sponsored Schools? The study was anchored by Herzberg’s theory of job satisfaction and motivation of 1959. Mixed method research design; phenomenology and descriptive survey designs was adopted. The target population consisted of nine schools, nine principals, 141 teachers and one Catholic education secretary. The nine Private Catholic schools in Eldoret were purposively sampled. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to obtain one education secretary and nine principals for the study. Probability stratified random sampling was used to obtain 120 teachers for the study. Data collection was through semi-structured questionnaires, interview guides and document analysis guide. Reliability was determined using Cronbach Alpha coefficient which gave of 0.83 and 0.93. Face validity, predictive validity and content validity were determined. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically while quantitative data was analyzed statistically using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) Version 21. The findings of the study showed that various retention strategies including: motivation of teachers, salary payment, salary increment and leadership in schools were in place for teacher retention. A weak positive correlation between the level of teacher retention strategies and academic performance in these schools was also noted. The study recommended that private catholic schools ought to develop policies on teacher retention as well as monitoring tools to enhance better teacher retention. The need to offer competitive pay packages, compensations, job security and job-related benefits to enhance teacher retention was highly recommended.