Teachers Class Size, Job Satisfaction and Morale in Cross River State Secondary Schools, Nigeria

Abstract

We studied staff class size, job satisfaction and morale in some secondary schools in Cross River State, Nigeria. The relevant variables of teacher class size and workload were used as independent variables while the dependent variables were students’ academic performance, teacher satisfaction and morale. Out of the total population of 2,100 teachers from 165 secondary schools in the State, 600 teachers from 60 secondary schools were sampled for the study using stratified random sampling. Teachers class size and work load were correlated with students’ academic performance in NECO examinations in English Language and Mathematics on the basis of schools while the relationship between teachers’ class size, workload and extent of their task accomplishment, their satisfaction and morale were correlated on the basis of individual teachers. Smaller class sizes had positive direct relationship with student’s academic performance. A reduction in teacher workload positively influenced teacher’s productivity and students’ performance. In contrast, high teacher’s class size and workload negatively influenced job satisfaction and morale. Government and proprietors of schools should recruit competent teachers to reduce the inverse relationship between teacher demand and supply.