The Influence of Working Environment on Teacher’s Turnover in Public Primary School in Sengerema District in Mwanza

Teachers’ turnover and retention in public primary schools seem to be critical issues in various schools in Tanzania. This study aimed at finding out the influence of working environmental conditions on teachers’ turnover in public primary school in Sengerema District in Mwanza. Specifically the study wanted to; assess the working environment in public primary school; determine whether teacher’s turnover is related to working environment, and to assess the level of teacher’s turnover in public primary school. A mixed approach, even though quantitative was used in collaboration with survey design. A sample of one hundred and two (102) respondents was used. The data was collected using questionnaires. SPSS program was used for processing and analysis of quantitative data. The findings of the study revealed that in classes, student do not have enough desks to sit on, classes are overcrowded and teachers in their office do not have enough chairs and tables to match with number of teachers. Also an average of one (1) to ten (10) teachers are moving to other school every year out of the district. Apart from those, others are quitting teaching profession to other profession. The study recommends that, the government should start a special program of building more classes in schools with overcrowded pupils; meanwhile the schools should have two shifts to reduce the problem. Improvement of social services such as hospitals in rural areas will be a motivation to teachers. Furthermore, there should be a program whereby teachers in rural areas (who work in poor condition areas) should be offered incentives to motivate them. In that way teachers will be retained in rural areas.