Abstract:
Education is the key that unlocks opportunities in every human being’s life as it creates a
non-imitable resource. It is universally believed that the only inheritance one can leave for
their off springs is education. This throws to the limelight, the main driver behind this
crucial resource: the teacher. The background of the study highlights the declining trend
in teacher retention and consequently a shrinking teacher workforce particularly in
secondary schools. The objectives of the study were: to explain the background of teacher
turnover, establish teacher turnover rate in a period of 1-10 years in Nyeri County,
identify major push and pull factors in the teaching profession in Nyeri County and
recommend strategies that can be used to retain teachers in Nyeri County. Literature
reviewed brought to fore certain characteristics associated with recruitment. The study is
based on Hertzberg’s two factor theory which distinguishes the hygiene factors as the
most crucial in teacher motivation as opposed to motivational factors. The study findings
highlight a myriad of pull and push factors impacting teacher turnover chief among them
as teachers’ teachers’ pay, with other underlying factors like job dissatisfaction, work
environment, reward system, work overloads, resource provision, professional training
and development and promotions. The study recommends that teacher motivational
sessions be organized, teacher facilitation be effected and rewarding, recognition of
teacher effort and formulation of attractive teacher retention policies by the government.
