Using an open, self-report questionnaire, this paper investigated Omani teachers' motives behindquitting the teaching profession and their tendencies to shift to other professions. The resultsdemonstrated that the nature of the teachers' work in the Sultanate of Oman is one of the main causesthat urge teachers to quit their job. The job routine accompanied by the lack of rewards anddevelopment opportunities were found major concerns for teachers that prevented them from sensingjoy and challenge and sustaining their interest in their work. In addition, work pressure is considerablyhigher in teaching compared to other professions. Teachers need sufficient time for preparing,reviewing, assessing students' work, and attending to their other administrative tasks, which requiresthem to carry on working beyond the daily working hours. Views of the new generation students werealso found to resemble a challenge for teachers;;current students are extremely good with technologyand so the traditional teaching methods are no longer suitable to meet the students' needs. This issueworries the old teachers in particular, whom technology was not part of their life. Another reason whyteachers leave their job is the low status of the teaching profession in the society. Teachers are nolonger viewed as descendants of profits and messengers as it has always been the case in theculture;;the student-teacher relationship has become very casual and ordinary. Moreover, and basedon the country law, leave and vacation system for school teachers is just the same as it is in the otherprofessions, which is quite unjust due to the nature of the teachers' job that requires them to toil andwork harder than their peers in other positions. In addition, the aspect of dealing with minds andhumans in the teaching profession is not as convenient in terms of postponing and delaying work as itis in some other professions. These were all found to be major reasons contributing to teachers'unwillingness to continue to be teachers in schools in Oman.
展开▼
