IMPACT OF PUBLIC SECTOR COMPENSATION REFORMS ON TEACHER ATTRITION IN GHANA

Abstract

Successive governments in Ghana have pursued numerous public sector compensation reform

programmes to attract and retain high calibre of trained professionals capable of rendering quality services in the public sector. Teachers in the country’s public service continue to search for greener economic pastures thus raising attrition thereof. This study sought to examine the extent to which compensation influences teacher attrition and assess the impact of the phenomenon. This study adopted mixed method design. Snowballing and purposive sampling strategies were used to select 20 retired graduate teachers and 30 former teachers who have quit the service and taken up new appointments elsewhere from the Ashanti and Central regions of Ghana for qualitative data. Focus group discussions were also employed. Systematic sampling technique was used to draw 150 teachers in active service from public senior high schools in the regions to participate in the study. Questionnaire was used to elicit quantitative responses on the factors that influence their attrition intentions. Data were analysed using regression and themes. Findings of the study indicated that pay was one critical factor that influenced the attrition intentions of teachers. Based on the findings, the study among others recommended that the compensation of teachers should be improved by not only enhancing the basic pay, but also to introduce some other allowances to make the profession more attractive to stem the tide of attrition of teachers.