B. Foster Teacher Retention
UNESCO sounded the alarm on the global teacher shortage crisis and how the profession struggles to retain its workforce and attract new talent. “Worldwide, 69 million teachers are needed to reach universal primary education by 2030. The most significant deficit is in sub-Saharan Africa”.
Teachers face exceptionally challenging tasks: teaching, grading tests and homework, managing student behaviors, and looking for teaching resources. Some teachers leave the profession due to stress, which is an enormous burden on a school regarding student achievement and cost. Teacher turnover dramatically impacts the students and other teachers in a high-poverty population where teacher attraction and retention are already challenging.
Retaining a well-trained teacher means many students succeed in school and unlock better futures. Trained, equipped, and empowered teachers provide quality instructions to help students learn and apply the knowledge. We recognize the pressures teachers face. We have started taking steps to help our teachers cope with various stresses.
Teacher Motivation
- We provide teachers breakfast and lunch to save them time and instruction time.
- We provide professional development, leadership development, and awards for best teachers.
- We consider teachers’ workloads and assign them subjects in the areas of their certifications and expertise.
- We promote a positive school culture where teachers and students feel safe, trusted, and respected.
Convenient Accommodation
We had a big challenge attracting teachers due to needing more accommodation. With housing funded by our supporters, we were able to have some teachers relocate to the village. Ten teachers are accommodated within the school compound. This reduced absenteeism and lateness caused by long distances. Recent infrastructure developments in the community have enabled us to rent units in the neighborhood for the rest of the staff members. We still need to build accommodation units for families.
Equitable Salaries
Our primary ongoing costs include teachers' salaries. Investing in teachers is investing in students and the whole community. We are working on generating income through agriculture to pay a living wage for teachers for better quality of education. This is still in its infant stages.
