Abstract:
Job satisfaction among special education teachers can largely be determined by good working conditions, provision of teaching resources. better pay, recognition, achievement and advancement. When teachers are satisfied they tend to perform better. Good working conditions mean job satisfaction. Teachers who get promotion are satisfied than those who never get promoted. Where the teaching resources were adequate, teachers provided the exceptional learners with the special attention they needed. Recognition of teachers is very vital if theirjob satisfaction is to be realized. Teachers may value other types of rewards other than just pay. The teacher"s age‘ gender. marital status. professional training and length of service also determine the level ofjob satisfaction. This study focused on the factors that affect job satisfaction among special education teachers in Nyandarua District. The study utilized the survey method as the primary research design where special education teachers" views. perceptions and opinions about job satisfaction were gathered. The tool for collecting data was a questionnaire that comprised of twelve items on the respondents‘ personal data and thirty close ended questions on the respondents" level ofjob satisfaction. The sampling method used was purposive. conducted to select the sample from the population of special education teachers in 16 special schools: (18 males and 24 females). Data gathered from this study was analyzed using percentages with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Science Computer Programme (SPSS). Results revealed that teacher characteristics influenced job satisfaction among special education teachers. Likewise. the study indicated that job related factors affected job satisfaction among special education teachers. From the study findings, it is recommended that special education teachers‘ job satisfaction be enhanced so that they can perform better. The study may be useful to the Ministry of Education and Kenya institute of Special Education since they will identify some of the challenges that may be impacting negatively on special education teachers‘ job performance and address them.
