In the Customary Court of the Rivers State of Nigeria
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PROFESSIONAL AWARENESS AS A CORRELATE OF JOB SATISFACTION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN RIVERS STATE OF NIGERIA BY OBISIKE, IHEANYI OSONDU PG/Ph.D/06/40994 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA OCTOBER, 2011 TITLE PAGE PROFESSIONAL AWARENESS AS A CORRELATE OF JOB SATISFACTION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN RIVERS STATE OF NIGERIA BY OBISIKE, IHEANYI OSONDU PG/Ph.D/06/40994 THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA, IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D) IN SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA OCTOBER, 2011 2 APPROVAL PAGE This thesis has been approved for the Department of Educational Foundations, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. By ______________________ _______________________ Prof. Uche Azikiwe Dr Eucharia N. Nwosu Supervisor Internal Examiner ______________________ _______________________ Prof. Cordelia Anadi Prof. Ike Ifelunni External Examiner Head of Department ________________ Prof. S.A. Ezeudu Dean of Faculty 3 CERTIFICATION OBISIKE, Iheanyi Osondu, a postgraduate student in the Department of Educational Foundations, with Registration Number PG/Ph.D/06/40994 has satisfactorily completed the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology of Education. The work embodied in this thesis is original and has not been submitted in part or full for any other diploma or degree of this, or any other university. __________________________ _______________________ Obisike, Iheanyi Osondu Prof. U. Azikiwe Student Supervisor 4 DEDICATION To my wife, Mrs. Mary Obisike and my children - Miss Chidinma and Master Chioma. 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The researcher thanks the Almighty God for giving him the faith and strength to accomplish this work, and for granting good health and wisdom to all those who have assisted him passionately. He is grateful to his supervisor, Prof. (Mrs.) Uche Azikiwe (MFR), in whom he found God’s favour. The researcher cannot thank her enough for being patient with his inadequacies, giving support and encouragement. Profound thanks also go to Dr. Eucharia N. Nwosu, Mr. John Agah and Chizoba Obikwelu for their contributions towards the realization of the researcher’s goals. Immense gratitude goes to Dr. J.C. Omeje, Dr. (Mrs.) T.O. Oforka, Dr. B.C. Madu, Prof. Emeka Ozoji, Dr. Ann Okoro, Dr. E.O. Ede, Dr Victor Nwachukwu, Prof. U.N.V. Agwagah, Dr. U.N. Eze, Prof. F.A. Okwor and Dr. D.U. Ngwoke for their useful and pertinent contributions that gave direction to this work. This work would have been more tedious if Dr. Jonah Nwogu had not made his library and intellectual assistance available. The researcher is grateful to him for being a brother and mentor. Dr. Goodness Orluwene is acknowledged with thanks for analyzing the data. The researcher is thankful to Mr. Ebere Nwala, Mr. Promise Nwonuala, Mrs. Peace Anunobi, Mr. Nweke Oluikpe, Mrs. Jonah Nwogu, Mrs. Ngozi Ibim, Mr. Clement Nwogu and Mrs. Iroegbu Happiness for their assistance during data collection. Thanks also go to the researcher’s friends and colleagues: Mr. Christian Egbunefu, Dr. Bede Nwosu, Dr. Michael Nwala, Mr. Peter Abraham Musa and Mr. Noel C. Nkado for being supportive. Appreciation goes to the researcher’s wife, Mrs. Mary Obisike and his parents, Chief Sir & Lady I.S. Obisike for their prayers. Finally, the researcher shares the joy of this work with his uncle, Mr. Matthew Obisike and his brothers who supported him morally and spiritually. Obisike, Iheanyi Osondu. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE i APPROVAL PAGE ii CERTIFICATION PAGE iii DEDICATION iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi LIST OF TABLES viii ABSTRACT ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Background to the Study 1 Statement of the Problem 9 Purpose of the Study 9 Significance of the Study 10 Scope of the Study 11 Research Questions 12 Hypotheses 12 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE Conceptual Framework 14 Concept of Profession 14 Development of Teaching Profession in Nigeria 18 Social Status of Teaching Profession in Nigeria 25 Concept of Professional Awareness 31 Concept of Job Satisfaction 33 Relationship between Professional Awareness and Job Satisfaction 35 Gender and Professional Awareness 37 Number of Years of Experience and Professional Awareness 38 Location of School and Professional Awareness 38 Gender and Teachers’ Job Satisfaction 39 Number of Years of Experience and Teachers’ Job Satisfaction 40 7 Location of School and Teachers’ Job Satisfaction 42 Theoretical Framework 43 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory 43 Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory 46 Empirical Studies 47 Empirical Studies on Professional Awareness 48 Empirical Studies on Job Satisfaction 49 Summary of Literature Review 53 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD Research Design 55 Area of the Study 55 Population of the Study 55 Sample and Sampling Technique 56 Instrument for Data Collection 56 Validation of the Instrument 57 Reliability of the Instrument 57 Method of Data Collection 58 Method of Data Analysis 58 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND RESULTS 60 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Discussion of Results 75 Conclusion 82 Educational Implications 82 Recommendations 83 Limitations of the Study 85 Suggestions for Further Research 85 Summary of the Study 85 REFERENCES 89 APPENDICES 102 8 LIST OF TABLES Table Title Page 1 Mean rating and standard deviation of the respondents’ responses on the indicators of professional awareness 60 2 Mean rating and standard deviation on the respondents’ responses on job satisfaction 61 3 Correlation between teachers’ professional awareness and job satisfaction 62 4 Mean rating, standard deviation and t-test analysis of male and female teachers on professional awareness 63 5 Mean ratings, standard deviations and t-test analysis of the responses of teachers who are <10 and >10 years of experience on professional awareness 65 6 Mean rating, standard deviation and t-test analysis of the responses of rural and urban teachers on professional awareness 67 7 Mean ratings, standard deviation and t-test analysis of the male and female teachers responses on job satisfaction 69 8 Mean ratings, standard deviation and t-test analysis of the teachers’ responses on job satisfaction based on their years of working experience 71 9 Mean ratings, standard deviation and t-test analysis of the responses of teachers on job satisfaction based school location 73 9 ABSTRACT The study investigated the relationship between professional awareness and job satisfaction among secondary school teachers in Rivers State of Nigeria. Nine research questions and seven null hypotheses were generated to guide the study. The population of the study comprised the 3,460 teachers in the public secondary schools in Rivers State. The sample consisted of 692 teachers who were selected through proportionate stratified random sampling technique based on location and gender distribution of the teachers in the population. The questionnaire was used for collection of data. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while the t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient statistics were used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed moderate professional awareness among the teachers. The respondents did not show satisfaction with their job. A significant low positive relationship existed between professional awareness and job satisfaction. Gender and years of experience had no significant influence on the teachers’ professional awareness rating scale, while school location showed a significant difference in their ratings. Gender influenced the ratings of the teachers on job satisfaction, while years of experience and school location did not. The implication of the findings is that teaching is yet to enjoy the status and prestige which other professions enjoy seventeen years after the establishment of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). This situation could be one reason for the problem of education in Nigeria. Among the recommendations made were: TRCN should control the mode of entry and period of training of teachers to ensure high standard of entry. Recruitment of teachers should be based on certification by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). The Rivers State Government should implement the Teachers Salary Structure (TSS) and ensure good working conditions and promotion opportunities for the teachers. 10 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Background to the Study The attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the series of changes in the global economy have called for commensurate reform initiatives in the educational sector. This is because education holds the key to sustainable development. Education is a process of development, which includes the three major activities of teaching, training and instruction. Teaching is a social as well as a professional activity. Within the context of formal education, teaching “is to cause the child to learn and acquire the desired knowledge, skills and also desirable ways of living in the society” (Singh, Sharma and Upadhya, 2008: 158). Hence, Ogunlade (2007) sees a person who is given the responsibility of teaching a course of study, lesson plan, or a practical skill, including learning and thinking skills to students or pupils as a teacher. Though the process of socialization in the school system goes beyond teaching in terms of latent function, most of the curricular activities are structured and planned for