The Effects of Teacher-Turnover due to Short-term Contracts on Students’ Academic Performance: A Study among Selected Primary Private Schools in the United Arab Emirates
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Date
2023-07
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The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
Abstract
Teacher-turnover has been a major factor affecting the scale of education that has been offered to students in recent years. These factors have transcended from affecting the academic performance of students to having more radical effect on the overall education system in the country and beyond. The major aim of this study was to analyse the effects of high teacher-turnover rates on the academic performance of children in private schools in the UAE. This was achieved by analysing to what extent the turnover of teachers affects students' academic performance, and by carrying out research of what the perspectives of teachers and school leaders are on the turnover of teachers and their performance and on students' academic achieve ments. Studies have identified staffing flexibility, reduction of the excelsside cost of enhancing motivational factors and promoting existing teachers, and the ease of dismissal are reasons behind the use of short-term contracted teachers. Despite the efforts of the UAE government to address the increase of teacher-turnover in the region, their policy on employing expatriate teachers on short-term contracts has been central in increasing the teachers-turnover rate in the country. On research methodology, this study utilised a mixed-research approach that integrates both qualitative and quantitative methods in collecting and analysing data. On the one hand, the qualitative approach utilised both primary and secondary sources of data. The Primary sources of data employed the use of a close-ended questionnaire that contained different questions. The study utilised a total of 300 respondents who were able to take part in the action. The quantitative method of data collection, on the other hand, did a correlational analysis of the problem at hand through a detailed interview of parents, teachers and principals who were interviewed using the qualitative research methods. The methodology further a pragmatic research approach that minimised inherent weaknesses of using each research approach by itself. Based on the findings, it was evident that the majority of respondents argue that the lack of adequate government involvement in the welfare of teachers, and the lack of adequate teachers’ unions are to blame for the increased teachers-turnover in the country. This study’s implications are tailored towards informing the government, policymakers, heads of institutions and academicians to work on modalities to improve the level of education in the region. The limitations of this study include the limited number of respondents and the limited literature review on the subject in addition to the issues surrounding cultural bias when it comes to the problem at hand. For posterity, the UAE government and relevant Ministries need to ensure that teachers’ welfare is met and adequate capacity building needs to be enhanced for teachers. Finally, there is a need for unionism, whereby teachers need to incorporate themselves into unions for their own welfare.