Influence of School Based Degree Programmes on Teachers’ Work Productivity in Nandi County

Abstract

Career development has become an emerging issue as employees endeavor to cope up with changing technology, job security and increase in salary and promotions in most organizations. However in other sectors like education they have not been able to fund their employees for trainings or provided time for them to attend trainings. Due to the absence of such policies, primary school teachers have opted to school based programmes to further their career development for various reasons. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of school based degree programme on teachers‟ work productivity; the study objectives were, four specific research objectives were addressed: to examine the effects of SBDP on teachers productivity in Nandi county, to investigate factors influencing teacher to enroll in SBDP in Nandi County, to examine the expectation of teachers upon completion of SBDP in Nandi County, to identify the challenges faced by teachers attending school based degree programmes in Nandi County and to identify the gaps in SBDP and recommend remedies for addressing the gaps. The study adopted a case study research design. The target population for the study was 202 respondents comprising of teachers and quality assurance and standard officers from Nandi County. The research tools included questionnaire and interview schedule. Descriptive statistics, frequency tables and bar graphs were used to present the data. Chi-square test was used to establish the relationship between school-based degree programme and teacher work productivity. The study recommends that, there is need for the ministry of education to support primary school teachers develop their careers through financial support like giving them loans and study leave. There is also need for the ministry of education to set standards for universities offering the courses on SBDP so that they are equipped with better library resources so that teachers can keep abreast with the latest developments in the teaching profession. The study further recommends the need for schools with teachers attending the SBDP to have extra time fixed for them so that they compensate for their absence in school. The study established that several factors were influencing teacher to enroll in SBDP in Nandi County, in particular the study established that increase in salary, promotion, looking for greener pastures, career development, job security, improved self-esteem, acquiring new skills and enrolling for a master‟s programme after completion were the main driving force for primary teachers in Nandi County to enroll in SBDP. Regarding the expectation of teachers upon completion of SBDP in Nandi County, the study established that teachers expected an increase in salary, promotion, acquisition of new skills, improved self-esteem, enroll in a masters programme, get greener pastures and improved job security. Regarding the Effects of SBDP on teachers work productivity, the study identified that improved instructional effectiveness, improved interpersonal relationships and development of new skills. The results however found out that school based degree programme negatively impacted on the teachers work productivity. In particular, absenteeism and inability to cover the syllabus negatively impacted on teachers work productivity. Regarding the challenges faced by teachers attending school based programmes in Nandi County, the study identified that lack of employer support, fixed school time table, family responsibilities and inadequate facilities at that institutions offering the courses were the major challenges faced by teachers. Regarding the measures that could improve the nature of SBDP, sustainable training program for all primary school teachers enabling them to further their careers, strong support from the ministry of education in terms of resources such as finances and study leave, preparation of flexible time tables and the need to increase the perspective on SBDP so that all people understand what SBDP is and how it works were proposed.