WORK ETHICS AS PREDICTORS OF TEACHERS ’TASK PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The study examined work ethics as predictors of teachers’ task performance in public secondary schools in Anambra State. Two research questions guided the study and two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study was a correlational research design. The population of the study was 267 principals in the 267 public secondary schools from the six Education Zones in Anambra State. Census sampling technique was employed in the study to select the entire population of 267 principals for the study. Two instruments as structured by the researcher were used for data collection. They include: Work Ethics Questionnaire (WEQ) and Teachers’ Task Performance (TPQ). The instruments were subjected to content and construct validation. Content validation was done by three experts while construct validation was carried out by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with the help SPSS v.26. The reliability of the instrument was done using Cronbach Alpha technique and the average coefficient values of 0.81 for WEQ and 0.86 for TPQ were considered highly reliable and suitable for the study. Out of 267 copies of the instrument administered, 263(99%) of the instrument were correctly completed and returned. Simple linear regression statistical tool was used for the study. The study revealed that self-discipline and teamwork positively and significantly predicted teachers’ task performance in public secondary schools in Anambra State. The study concluded that teachers’ compliance to good work ethics and when teachers are seen upholding a sound professional conduct, it creates a high level of public confidence and trust on the teaching profession. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that principals should make an effort to come up with measures that can boost teachers’ compliance with good work ethics, and show gratitude to those who exhibit exemplary behaviours and sacrifices for the success of teams in the school. This practice will spur and motivate teachers to perform optimally in their tasks in public secondary schools in Anambra State.