School Location and Size as Predictors of Head Teachers’ Job Satisfaction

Abstract

The general intent of this descriptive study was to document the general job satisfaction of the head teachers working
in government elementary schools in context of their school location and size as measured by the Minnesota Satisfaction
Questionnaire (MSQ). Therefore, survey design was used to obtain needed information. The teachers of all categories who were
working as head teachers in government elementary schools at district Toba Tek Singh (in any area, i.e., rural or urban) in the
Punjab, Pakistan (except the sampled for pilot study), were asked to fill the questionnaire. The Urdu version of the modified
Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) was used as a research tool in this study. It was concluded that the head teachers
working in government elementary schools at district Toba Tek Singh in the Punjab, Pakistan were found generally satisfied with
their positions regardless of their school location and size. The head teachers working in urban areas were found significantly
more satisfied than the head teachers of rural areas, and no significant differences were found among the job satisfaction levels
of the head teachers working in smaller and larger schools. On the basis of the responses to the MSQ, it appears that
elementary school head teachers (Toba Tek Singh) in the Punjab, Pakistan were satisfied with their jobs. Policy makers and
other concerned authorities should put forth effort to either maintain this level of satisfaction or increase it to a higher level. This
may be done by increasing satisfaction for different aspects of job; Compensation, Working Conditions, Social Status, and
School System Policies and Practices. There is need to improve the job satisfaction level of the government elementary school
head teachers working in rural areas of district Toba Tek Singh. This can be done while providing them some special facilities,
incentives, and allowances, like better working conditions and transport or travelling allowance etc. Study on satisfaction and
school location should be conducted to investigate the reason why job satisfaction increases with urban schools and studies on
satisfaction to investigate more predictors to job satisfaction should be conducted.