MEASURING JOB SATISFACTION: INFLUENCE OF GENDER AND SCHOOL LOCATION

Abstract

This study was conducted to measure the general and facet specific job satisfaction of the head teachers and the influence of gender and school location on their job satisfaction. It was concluded that the head teachers were overall satisfied with their positions. Generally, the female head teachers were more satisfied than the male head teachers and the head teachers located in urban areas were more satisfied than the head teachers located in rural areas. Moral values and Activity were the two aspects of job for which the head teachers showed the higher satisfaction while Compensation, Working Conditions, Social Status, and School Practices and Polices were the facets of job which contributed to low satisfaction. The female head teachers were more satisfied than the male head teachers for Ability Utilization, Activity, Authority, Colleagues, Creativity, Moral Values, Recognition, Responsibility, Social Service, Social Status, Advancement, School System Policies and Practices, Supervision Human Relations, Supervision Technical, and Working Conditions dimensions of the job. The head teachers located in urban areas were more satisfied than the head teachers located in rural areas for Activity, Creativity, Independence, Recognition, Social Service, Social Status, Advancement, School System Policies and Practices, Supervision Human Relations, and Working Conditions dimensions of the job. The female head teachers and the head teachers located in urban areas were more satisfied than the male head teachers and the head teachers located in rural areas for Activity, Creativity, Moral Values, Recognition, Social Service, Social Status, Advancement, School System Policies and Practices, Supervision Human Relations, and Working Conditions dimensions of the job. Results based on this study provide a sufficient ground to frame the following recommendations: Policy makers and other concerned authorities should put forth effort to either maintain this level of satisfaction or increase it to a higher level; Satisfaction level for compensation may be improved with a big rise in salaries of the head teachers, Working conditions may be improved with provision of missing facilities; The satisfaction level for social status can be improved by providing more chances to head teachers to intermingle with important personalities and preferences in different spheres (hospital, railway, bank, court etc.) of life; Governmental steps like new dismissal/termination rules, privatization, stoppage of move-over and advance increments should be eliminated and government also needs to be sure how the new policies and practices are in the favour of the head teachers; Some special steps should also be taken for male head teachers and the head teachers located in rural areas to improve the conditions for Activity, Creativity, Moral Values, Recognition, Social Service, Social Status, Advancement, School System Policies and Practices, Supervision Human Relations, and Working Conditions dimensions of the job.