Why Teachers Leave Teaching: The Case of Pretertiary Institutions in Ghana

Abstract

In Ghana, many professional teachers have been leaving teaching to seek employment in jobs that they think hold promise of better pay and prestige. This article critically examines the key factors that compel teachers to leave the teaching profession for other jobs. Thirty professionally trained teachers who had taught at pretertiary institutions for a minimum of 5 years before abandoning teaching participated in the study. The snowball sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents, whereas the interview technique was used to gather data. The study revealed that poor remuneration and loss of status and prestige among other reasons compel teachers to abandon the teaching profession. One recommendation, among others, is raise salary levels to a level more competitive with those of other jobs to help retain the best and brightest teachers in the Ghana Education Service.