A review of teacher demotivational factors and emerging issues in secondary schools in Kenya

This paper discusses demotivational factors and emerging issues demoralizing secondary school teachers and creating low learning outcomes. Negative behaviours including frequent strikes, cases of examination irregularities and insecurity suggest moral decay and lack of values among learners. This indicates a decline in the quality of secondary education in the country. Teacher motivation is linked to improved student good performance in the national examinations. This review analyzes possible threats to teachers’ motivation and remedial measures. The specific objectives of this review were to (i) Examine demotivational factors and ii) Determine emerging issues in secondary schools in Kenya. Provision of non-attractive remuneration together with emerging acute shortage of teachers, inadequate opportunities for professional growth, insecurity in schools and haphazard implementation of devolved government system in Kenya demotivate teachers. The findings are useful to the government, educational administrators, and other stakeholders to mitigate teachers’ demotivation and improve performance in secondary schools.