Job Satisfaction Of Teachers In Kazakhstan: Findings From Interviews

Factors of Satisfaction

Discuss the job satisfaction of teachers in Kazakhstan.

Findings from the Interview  

 The interview process refers to the job satisfaction of teachers in Kazakhstan and their level of emotional involvement in their jobs. The emotional complexities in a teacher’s job shall have an impact on the job performance of a teacher. In the interview process, I have classified the interviewee responses into the following categories – factors of satisfaction as well as factors of dissatisfaction about the job.

Factors of Satisfaction

The findings of the study have been related to the researchers documented by many past researchers in their research studies. As per the research study, the main sources of job satisfaction of teachers are the growth and development of children studying in schools. Teachers have been effective in helping the children to achieve their goals and the objectives in life. They have played a pivotal role in providing quality education to the children. Besides this, the children shall grow to be responsible members of the society, and work towards the general good The teachers have played an important role in assisting the children to learn about teamwork and able to attain the common objectives. Thus, the teachers have been instrumental in bringing fairness and establishing democracy in Kazakhstan. These factors are a source of satisfaction to the teachers, and shall provide motivation to excel in their job role.  

Working with Children

 Each of the teachers stated that they liked to work with the children. The most common question asked was pertaining to the most satisfaction aspect in being a teacher. Many teachers mentioned that they felt a deep sense of love for their profession, and its positive impact on the lives of young individuals. According to the (Cockburn, 2000; Lortie, 1975; Nias, 1989), job satisfaction of being able to contribute substantially to the success of a young individual is one of the essential attributes that has lead to the job satisfaction level of the teachers regardless of the country or region in which the teacher operates.

As such, there are emotional rewards in being a teacher. Developing informal relationships with the young individuals and working with them in their personal growth has been one of the primary responsibilities in being a teacher. Besides this, the teachers help identify the discrepancies existing within the individual, thereby, leading in the personal growth of the teachers. The teacher helps to identify the strengths and the weaknesses of the students, thereby, leading the students to further development. In the context of Kazakhstan, teachers have been one of the pillars of the society and have made substantial contributions towards it being a democratic country. This has been explained in detail in the following part of the study.

Working with Children

Contribution Towards the Society

 An essential aspect of the job role of teachers working in Kazakhstan is the ability to contribute substantially in the lives of young people. As such, this has been major satisfying factor for the teachers working in this country. Teachers in the country have been striving hard in making difference to the lives of the students. As such, it can be said that they have been positively contributing to the building of the society. This helps the teachers to a take a pro- active role in building the nation. Several acknowledge this fact, along with the negative aspects of a teacher’s job. Teachers have also emphasized on the growing lack of respect associated with the job of a teacher. As per the present study, teachers have a massive role to play in a developing country, given the stagnant economic and the financial condition of the country. According to the teachers, they can play an important role in turning Kazakhstan into a more economic as well as a democratic country. In this regard, it can be said that this shall help Kazakhstan, since it has traditionally struggled in the context of the economic as well as the democratic development of the country. As such, there is a sense of responsibility as well as pride associated with a teacher’s job.

 Facilitating collaboration

 Developing better working relationships with colleagues shall have a positive impact on the job of a teacher. Teachers who are critical of their fellow colleagues develop feelings of dissatisfaction in the workplace. As such, this shall lead to feelings of discontent in the workplace. In the workplace, colleagues are seen as friends who offer psychological and emotional support. Lack of such support system can lead to the feelings of job satisfaction among the workers in the workplace (Cockburn, 2000; Schwarzer & Greenglass, 1999). As such, such factors can lead to a negative perception among the workers in the workplace.

Professional Growth

Teachers who taught in the secondary school stated that emotional as well as intellectual stimulation in their job role as a teacher. They felt that the job satisfaction of teacher have a positive influence on their professional growth as a teacher. Thus, the teachers have to find excitement as well as stimulation in their job role to find growth as professionals.

Factors of Dissatisfaction

The past researchers in their research studies have stated the sources of dissatisfaction. (Dinham & Scott, 1998, 2000; Thompson, McNamara & Hoyle, 1997; van den Berg, 2002). mentioned that these factors included- student failure and lack of respect from the society. Besides this, restrictions in the workplace as well as lack of congenial relationships in the workplace shall have an impact on the operational policies of the business entity. In Western Kazakhstan, there are certain factors that shall have an impact on the decreasing job satisfaction levels in the organization. These include – the lower remuneration, decreasing autonomy and the centralization of the education system. As such, the following factors are explained in detail

Contribution Towards the Society

 Salary

 The most essential attribute that shall have an impact on the job satisfaction levels of teachers is the level of pay offered by schools  as well as educational institutions  In contrast to the Herzberg’s theory, the salary is a major motivating factors affecting the morale of the teachers in  Kazakshastan. In this regard, it can be said that the salary of the teachers has been increasing every year. However, most of the teachers are of the opinion that this has not been enough to fulfill their daily needs. As such, this has affected the financial condition of the teachers in Kazakhstan. The teacher’s salary shall not be enough to purchase food, payment of bills as well as the purchase of the necessary equipment for their daily lives. Lower wages lead to lower job satisfaction as well increase in the rate of attrition in various schools and educational institutions.

Indiscipline and Student Failure

Indiscipline among the students was one of the primary reasons, which led to the feelings of job dissatisfaction among the teachers. Teachers from elementary as well as the secondary schools have stated that indiscipline as well as bad behavior is a serious issue among the students from Kazakhstani schools. This had a considerable negative impact on the quality of education offered in these schools. However, most administrators would not take personal responsibility for misbehavior of the students failure. In this regard, some administrators felt that they are personally responsible for the well –being of the students, and should take pr-active measures to rectify the situation.

Recognition from the Society

Complaints have been received from teachers regarding the attitude of parents of the students studying in schools. Lack of respect towards the teachers from the various sections of the society shall have an adverse impact on the morale of the teachers and can lead to disappointment and disillusion.

 The Centralization of the Education System

The centralization of the education system shall lead to lesser autonomy. The sample of teachers who has been interviewed emphasized their dissatisfaction due to the lack of autonomy as well as the presence of strict rules and regulations without any considering the opinion of the teachers. As such, teachers tried to implement certain changes in the syllabus. Such an initiative was taken because the teachers felt that reforms introduced within the educational system were inappropriate and shall not benefit the students in any manner. However, this led to major administrative issue in the Kazakhstan educational system. As such, teachers as well as administrators working in the country lack the kind of freedom and autonomy that is present in other professionals.

Evaluation of the Job Role of Teachers

The majority of the interviewees felt that the inspection supervision as well as lesser prospects of job promotion led to feelings of discontent among the workers. Many teachers believe that the job assessment procedures used is not fair. As such, the teachers felt that that this has hampered the chances of promotion and growth in the current education system of Kazakhstan. In addition, the common public believes that there is widespread corruption prevalent in Kazakhstan. As such, the teachers are discontent and it is felt that the Kazakhstan has to prevent such negative attributes before it can establish itself as a democratic country. Thus, teachers are not motivated enough and believe that their feedback would not be taken seriously enough. Besides this, the teachers felt that their performance would not get the due acknowledgement from the authorities. Therefore, professional discourse as well as proper remuneration for teachers shall be required for teachers who are excelling in their job roles.