Title: Salary Administration And Teacher Retention In Private Secondary Schools In Akwa Ibom State
Authors: Theresa Adaobi CHIMEZIE
Taiwo Ebenezer ADELEKE
Volume: 10
Issue: 3
Pages: 243-248
Publication Date: 2026/03/28
Abstract:
This study investigated the relationship between salary administration and teacher retention in private secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design of correlational type. The population comprised all private secondary school teachers in the state, while a sample of 393 teachers was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Salary Administration and Teacher Retention Questionnaire (SATRQ). The instrument was validated by experts in its reliability was established using Cronbach's alpha, yielding a coefficient of 0.79. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used to answer the research questions, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was employed to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that teacher retention were low, salary administration were very low too. The salary administration measured in terms of salary structure, timeliness of payment, and pay equity have significant positive relationship with teacher retention in private secondary schools. Specifically, timely payment of salaries and equitable compensation were found to significantly influence teachers' decision to remain in their schools. The study further indicated that poor salary administration practices contribute to teacher dissatisfaction and high turnover rates. Based on the findings, it was concluded that effective salary administration is a critical determinant of teacher retention. The study recommended that private school proprietors should implement fair, competitive, and timely salary systems to enhance teacher retention and ensure stability in the school system.