AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECT OF TEACHERS MOTIVATION ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS

1.1 Introduction

Motivation can be defined as a combination of psychological, physiological and environmental circumstances that cause a person to say that he/she is happy with his/her job (Long & Swortzel, 2007). The teaching profession previously was accorded with respect, honor and dignity. This enviable profession was a sort of motivation to many teachers. Also not only afford life career and permanent membership but also renders services to the public. A quality teacher is one who has a positive effect on student learning and development through a combination of content mastery, command of a broad set of pedagogic skills, and communications/interpersonal skills. Quality teachers are life-long learners in their subject areas, teach with commitment, and are reflective upon their teaching practice.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Motivation is a critical component in preserving quality human resources and life of any institute that values progress and innovations in work place especially in the academia. In academia, motivation is among the cornerstones for a healthier school. Motivation has been perceived differently by different researchers in the field of education. Motivation involves a number of psychological factors that start and maintain activities towards the achievements of personal goals and refers to reasons that underlie behaviour that is characterized by willingness and volition. Motivation in education can have several effects on how students learn and their behavior towards subjects matter (Leedy and Ormrod, 2001).

Motivation of teachers and students in the teaching and learning process can direct behavior towards particular goals, leads to increase effort and energy, enhances cognitive processing, increases imitation of and persistence in activities, determines what consequences are reinforcing and it can also lead to improved performance. Bradey (2001) is of the view that motivated teachers always look for better ways to do their teaching job and, as a result, they are more productive. Therefore, it means that motivated teachers are determined to give their best to achieve the maximum output (qualitative education).

Teachers are regarded as people who work hard enough to change the society in all they do. They have vision and a sense of direction. Teachers will do better in the discharge of their duty if they are satisfied with their job and the condition they do their job, this will increase their productivity. Teachers’ need to be resourceful and inventive in order to develop the commitment towards any given tasks and to enhance the students’ academic achievement.

Education is widely recognized as one major indicator of development in any country the world over. One of the basic purposes of educations is to produce trained human resource, which can overcome development impediments of any given country. To achieve this, there should be a satisfied and motivated work force in the sector. Employees with high level of motivation obligate their time, bring innovations, dynamism and efforts to work which consequence lead to high productivity (Scott, 2004). The quality of the teachers, their pledge, fulfilment and enthusiasm are the element issues for the students to profit from the educational system. Teachers act as replicas, since they are the pillars of the humanity.

Jyoti and Sharma (2009) opined that teachers support the students, not only to raise, but also to be the potential leaders of the succeeding generation, and to shoulder the obligation of enchanting their country ahead. Fulfilment with the teaching constituent has imperative significances. It indicates that the teachers are pleased, devoted and dedicated, and it also benefits them to convey their best potentials to their schools, so that students, parents, and the society may benefit from their services (Ofoegbu, 2004). Teachers, like other personnel have ethical obligation for a complete all round development of their state. They want to be skilfully effective, efficient and fulfilled on their job. As indicated by Jaiyeoba and Jibril (2008), fulfilled and inspired teachers are significant for any education system. The achievement or failure of the education system hinge on largely fulfilled teachers, fulfilled school administrators and managers. Teachers, precisely, spend expanse of time with their students in class, and hence they have a substantial impression on student attainment (Correnti, Miller & Rowan, 2002; Jyoti & Sharma, 2009).

To Kousteliou (2001), motivation is an utmost interesting field for many researchers to study labour approach in workers. Due to better presentation revealed by fulfilled workers, it is the top significance of all organizations to achieve the desired goals by growing their fulfilment. Accordingly, Armstrong (2006) sees motivations as the attitudes, feelings and moods people have about their jobs. For Armstrong, positive or favourable approach and feelings about the work and the work situation indicate motivation, and the inverse, mentioning to negative or unfavourable attitudes towards the work indicate job displeasure.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Effect of Teachers Motivation on the Academic Achievement of Students.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the ineffectiveness of teachers has really been matters of general concern in our society as the school system have been adversely affected. This is chiefly attributed to lack of motivation and incentive to teachers. It therefore contributes immensely as a serious setback in the academic performance of students in secondary school.

Teachers seem to experience irregular payment of salaries and allowances which hinder their dedication to duties. Poor salaries also affect their performance in the classroom as their promotions are not implemented which reduces their morale in teaching.

The environment under which teachers teach or work is not conducive hence reducing their interest in their job as well as their output in teaching. It is this situation that has prompted the researcher to conduct a study to establish the Influence of teachers’ motivation on students’ academic performance in secondary schools in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to investigate the Effect of Teachers Motivation on the Academic Achievement of Students. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine if teachers’ on-the-job training have effect on students’ academic performance;
2. To ascertain whether remuneration and incentive influence students’ academic performance;
3. To determine if teachers workload will affect students’ academic performance; and
4. To find out the extent to which promotion of teachers at and when due influences teachers performance.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• To what extent will remuneration and incentive influence students’ academic performance?
• How will job security and retention influence students’ academic performance?
• How will teacher’s workload affect students’ academic performance?
• To what extent will teachers’ on-the-job training have effect on students’ academic performance?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant influence of remuneration and incentive on students’ academic performance.
• H1: There is a significant influence of remuneration and incentive on students’ academic performance.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no significant influence of job security and retention on students’ academic performance.
• H1: There is a significant influence of job security and retention on students’ academic performance.

Hypothesis Three

• H0: There is no significant influence of on-the-job training on students’ academic performance
• H1: There is a significant influence of on-the-job training on students’ academic performance

Hypothesis Four

• H0: There is no significant influence of workload on students’ academic performance.
• H1: There is significant influence of workload on students’ academic performance.

1.7 Significance of Study

The relevance of the study will help in finding possible ways in which motivation can influence productivity or performance in teaching and learning process and also improve learning on the part of students. It is important for the researcher to put into consideration, the significance of teachers' motivation and academic performance of students. However, this research will be significant in the following ways:

1. When teachers are being motivated, the society/ government will benefit immensely in the sense that the teachers put in their best, the students will contribute properly to the economic growth and development of the nation and the welfare of its citizens.

• Parents will also benefit when teachers are being motivated in the sense that the students will be responsible to their parents and also the money spent on them will not be in vein because they will help in carrying out family responsibilities.

1. Students will benefit equally when teachers are motivated because the research will enable them to enhance and improve their performance.
2. Parents will benefit when teachers are being motivated in the sense that the students will be responsible to their parents and also the money spent on them will not be in vein because they will help in carrying out family responsibilities.
3. The teachers also benefit a lot when positive motivation is given to them in terms of promotion, fringe benefit, salaries are paid at and when due, they will give in their best in the teaching process. And also their standard of living will improve.

Finally, this study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Investigation into the Effect of Teachers Motivation on the Academic Achievement of Students. The study will cover some selected secondary schools in Surulere Local Government Area in Lagos State.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.10 Definition of Terms

Teacher: A person whose job is teaching, impact knowledge in an individual.

Motivate: A reason why somebody does something or behaves in a particular way.