Journal of Education and Social Sciences

Number 2, 2014

109-126
Determinants of Teacher’s Job Satisfaction: Evidence from The Primary and Secondary Schools of Karachi

Authors: Syeda Anum Nizam, M. Shahnawaz Adil

Abstract

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Number of views: 531

Teacher’s job satisfaction has been considered a very important element in the training and development of pupils in their early academic years. This study investigates the impact of five determinants of the teacher’s job satisfaction in the context of primary and secondary schools when controlling for their age, gender, experience, marital status and education. These five determinants include occupational stress, empowerment, interpersonal relationships, working conditions and self-efficacy. A sample of 280 respondents is drawn from school teachers of Karachi. Principal component and hierarchical multiple regression analyses with ‘forward’ method are used to analyze the data. With exception of self-efficacy, the results show that occupational stress, empowerment, interpersonal relationships and working conditions have been found statistically significant predictor of teacher’s job satisfaction in Karachi. Therefore, the school administration and management should mainly concentrate on developing interpersonal relationships as well as providing them with a suitable working conditions. Consequently, school teachers could remain satisfied with their job which may lead to produce better candidates for the higher education as well as highly-competitive professionals for different industries. Moreover, teachers should also be given an appropriate level of autonomy to manage the academic affairs of students in classrooms. It would not only help them reduce their occupational stress but also enhance their level of job satisfaction. Managerial implications and areas for future research are also discussed.

127-143
Investigating the relationship among Organizational Commitment, Job Satisfaction and Emotional Intelligence – Evidence from Teachers at Secondary Level in Pakistan

Authors: M. Athar Hussain, Imtiaz Ahmed, Syed Zubair Haider

Abstract

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Number of views: 507

The subject study is aimed to investigate relationship among three different factors associated with secondary level teachers including organizational commitment, job satisfaction and emotional intelligence in Pakistan. Additionally the subject study is aimed to investigate role of age and gender in determining these aspects among selected audience. In order to achieve said objectives, sample of 150 teachers at secondary level is selected by using stratified random sampling with proportionate allocation to each stratum. Field survey has been conducted during course of subject study, and results are based on research type of ex post facto in which structured questionnaire is used to gather data from respondents. Findings of study revealed that there is significant positive relationship among investigated factors i.e. job satisfaction and organizational commitment and emotional intelligence. Similarly it has also been found that there is no difference between teachers of age groups and belonging to different gender, with respect to factors under analysis including organizational commitment and job satisfaction but there is significant role of gender played in emotional intelligence i.e. females have greater extent of emotional intelligence than that of males.

144-153
Oral Communication Apprehension Among Undergraduate Engineering Students in Pakistan

Authors: M. Fareed Dar, Imran Khan

Abstract

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Number of views: 545

This paper investigates the levels of oral communication anxiety of undergraduate engineering students in Pakistan. The data was collected from four departments of the university. McCroskey’s (1978) Oral Communication Apprehension (OCA) Survey Instrument was adopted for this study. The questionnaire was translated into Urdu (National Language of Pakistan) to make it clear to respondents. The data analysis revealed 18% of the sample had high level of oral communication apprehension, 66% faced average level of oral communication apprehension and 16% were in low level of oral communication apprehension. This study also discloses that there is no significant difference in levels of oral communication apprehension of male and female. Further the study reports and compares levels of oral communication anxiety of the students to whom English is the second language and to whom English is the third language ( both in foreign language context). Finally, the study concludes that although the majority of the undergraduate engineering students face average level of writing anxiety, however, with attention and guidance they can be brought to low level of writing anxiety category.

154-162
Impact of Teachers' Subject Matter Knowledge and Behaviour on Students’ Performance

Authors: Syed Moeenuddin Peerzada, Musarrat Jabeen

Abstract

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Number of views: 621

: This study investigated the impact of teacher’s subject matter knowledge and their behavior on the student’s performance. Qualified and well behaved teachers help to boost learner’s confidence and involvement in learning activities. In Pakistan,the quality of school level education is continuously deteriorating. It may be because of the reason that most of the private schools, due to their financial constraints, hire less qualified and untrained teachers. The data was collected through a 5 points Likert scale questionnaire. Responses were obtained from the students of secondary and matric classes of three different schools. Data was analyzed using various statistical techniques, (factor analysis, regression analysis, mean comparison). The analysis of data revealed a significant relation between the student performance, teacher subject matter knowledge and teacher’s behavior. Besides this, it was found that the achievement level of students of high income area is better than that of low income area. Furthermore, the subject matter knowledge and behavior of the teachers of high income area schools were found to be better than those of low income area. This study suggests that the subject matter knowledge and behavior of the teachers should be given prime consideration while hiring them. In-service teachers’ training programs must also be held to keep teachers updated in the subject. Personality development and motivational trainings should also be held to help teachers in improving their behavior. Besides this the perks and privileges should also be raised for the teachers to attract knowledgeable and well behaved people to the teaching profession.

163-172
China’s Foreign Policy Choices and Domestic Constrains: Maneuvering for Peaceful Rise

Authors: Shah Rukh Hashmi, M. Arif Khan, Munazza Khan

Abstract

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Number of views: 510

The paper explains how the People’s Republic of China has developed its strategy on three different levels: domestic, regional and global to manage its interests, focusing on the objectives and choices available at the end of China. The purpose to conduct this research is to critically analyze how the objective of peaceful rise is gradually, but coherently in the right direction, by the application of ideological, economic and defense means in well-articulated way. The crux of utilization of these foreign policy instruments, reflects that Confuciusism and tributary system’s legacy is applied in dealing with smaller neighboring states and four regional powers, both engagement and containment are adopted. On the global front, the geography of China contributes a lot in her favor, whereas several global engagements of the United States as hegemon prevent her to wage an effective check on China either through a global strategy of containment or engagement.