Effects of Late and Non-Payment of Teachers’ Salaries and Benefits on Learning Process in Public Secondary Schools

Social Science

This study examining the effects of late and non-payment of teachers’ salaries and benefits on the learning process in public secondary schools in the Coast Region. The study sought to explore the causes of and solutions to the problem of late and non-payment of teachers’ salaries and benefits, to examine the common methods used to deal with the problem and to assess their efficiency and effectiveness, and to explore the Ministry’s plans for ending the problem of late payment of teachers’ salaries and benefits with the aim of informing policy and practice. The study mainly utilized the qualitative approach. The area of the study was Coast Region involving four public secondary schools in Kibaha Town Council and Kibaha Rural District. Data were collected through questionnaires, documentary reviews, interviews, and focus group discussions. The respondents were selected through both random and purposive sampling in order to collect the data, which were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The study findings showed several effects of teachers’ delayed salaries and benefits on the teaching and learning process, such as poor preparation of lessons, students’ poor performance in examinations, the lack of practical learning and study tours, poor classroom attendance, poor teaching methods, and classroom management. It is thus concluded that teachers’ salaries and benefits not being paid on time, as evidenced in public secondary schools, have a detrimental effect on the teaching and learning process and examination performance as well as on the delivery of quality education. This study recommends arising from the study are that Ministry officials, educational planners, and policymakers could positively influence teacher motivation through appropriate policy changes and implementation, including mobilizing resources to pay teachers attractive salaries and benefits at the same level as those in other public services, such as medicine, law, and engineering. Thus, it is suggested that future research should focus on specific incentives that could enhance the motivation and job satisfaction of teachers in public secondary schools in Tanzania.

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