Extent Of Job Satisfaction Among Secondary School Teachers

INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study

The impact of job satisfaction is very crucial to the long term growth of any educational system around the world. Man tends to render certain services if he is reasonably satisfied in his chosen career. Job satisfaction is desired in virtually all human organizations such as family, church, industry, civil service and the school for the purpose of attaining their stated objectives Fafunwa (1974), noted that both boys and girls in the traditional education settings performed their best in the art of hunting, farming and cooking when their morale were boosted by their parents through praises, incentives and other forms of motivation.
However, those who excelled in the discharge of their duties or functions were normally praised and guided for better performance in future while those who performed below expectation were cautioned, assisted and guided for a good performance in future.
The efficiency of any school system depends to a large extent upon how effectively human resources are utilized. It is assumed that teachers agitations and demands are beyond the resources of the ministry of education or the government. As a result the government in Nigeria and the Nigerian union of teachers (NUT) are in constant face – off over the increase in salaries, benefits and improvements of or in working conditions of teachers.
Locke (1986), observed that job satisfaction refers to the pleasurable or positive emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one’s job experiences. Eneasator (1990), defined job satisfaction as the totality of an individuals psychological, social and physical well – being with regard to his work and job performance Teachers need to enjoy positive job satisfaction in order to be more functional and contribute meaningfully to the teaching and learning process in the school. In the context of this study, job satisfaction connotes teachers’ pleasurable or positive and emotional state resulting from their job experiences in terms of financial incentives, teaching facilities and principals leadership styles, teachers welfare, student attitude / response.
There should be availabilities of functional libraries, recreational facilities and staff quarters to make teaching and learning condition very conductive for the student and teachers. Obi (1997), stressed that if teachers lack job satisfaction their physiological needs will rarely be met and this will negatively influence their productive capacity, but if teachers enjoy job satisfaction, they tend to exhibit unprecedented love to their students through adequate teaching and research.
The present study is expected to find out the true job satisfaction among secondary school teachers in Ezeagu L.G.A.
The study is aimed at finding out the level of job satisfaction in terms of benefits, and the availability of facilities for teaching and learning in Ezeagu L.G.A. It also seeks to ascertain the extent to which teachers are affected by the principals’ leadership styles, teachers welfare and students attitude and response. It has become necessary to determine whether teachers in Ezeagu Secondary School are satisfaction with their working conditions whether they receive commensurate remuneration that would keep them move comfortable to sustain their services and achieve the stated educational objectives as well as the stated educational goals.
Ocha (2005) observed that falling standard of education in Nigeria could be attributed to lack of job satisfaction among practicing teachers. He noted that the deplorable condition of teachers, is likened to their low moral which invariably affects teaching and learning.
Ogunsanju (1983) reported that the public is worried over the deplorable state of affairs in the secondary school system in Nigeria. The incessant strike action embarked by the teachers in primary and secondary schools in Nigeria the calls for serious concern. This ugly trend in the school system is evidently shown in the frequent work stop and long closure of schools resulting in truncated academic calendar and the complete breakdown of discipline, learning and scholarship.
Fagbemi (1980), noted that these days teachers are found outside their school premises and even within the school premises, selling goods to the detriment of their duties. Part of the reasons for these actions of the teachers could be absence of job satisfaction among secondary school teachers.
On the contrary, the Enugu State Government has always maintained through radio and television announcement that teachers salaries and allowances teaching aids facilities and other conditions of service necessary for providing job satisfaction have been provided for effective teaching and learning.
The Problem of the study is therefore to determine the extent to which secondary school teachers are satisfied in their teaching job in Ezeagu Local Government Area.

Purpose of the Study
This study was designed to ascertain the extent to which secondary school teachers in Ezeagu are satisfied with their jobs. Specifically, the study sought to achieve the following objectives.
1. ¬To determine the extent to which the financial benefits satisfy secondary school teachers in Ezeagu Local Government Area.
2. To ascertain the extent to which secondary school teachers are satisfied with available facilities in the schools in Ezeagu L.G.A.
3. To find out the extent to which leadership style of school principals affects teachers job satisfaction.

Significance of the Study
The findings of the study will be of importance to the officials of the Ministry of Education, Enugu, and the post ¬ Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB) Enugu. It will help to improve the learning process if the teachers become satisfied with their salaries and other working condition. Teachers and students are expected to benefit from the findings of the study. Teachers are expected to enhance their productivity rate since the findings of the study are likely to bring the attention of relevant authorities to the satisfaction of the primary and secondary needs of the teachers. The students on their own part will be more enthusiastic to the teaching and learning processes because the teacher are expected to show more love to their students by providing them with relevant and interesting learning experiences.
The finding of the study will be of importance to entire public because it is likely to make interesting revelations on the extent of job satisfaction among secondary school teachers in Ezeagu.

Research Questions
The following research questions guided the study:
1. What is the extent of job satisfaction among secondary school teachers in Ezeagu Local Government Area in terms of salaries and allowances?
2. To what is the extent does available facilities in schools affects teachers in Ezeagu L.G.A?
3. To what extent does the principals leadership style affect the teachers job satisfaction in Ezeagu L.G.A?