Abstract:
Teacher transfer requests interfere with the stability and continuity of teaching thereby causing low
student performance. The purpose of the study was to investigate how teacher transfer requests can
be minimized. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The population of the study included 16
head teachers, 126 teachers and the provincial staffing officer. The sample had 13 head teachers, 98
teachers and the provincial staffing officer after 30% of the stratified population were involved in the
pilot. The 3 strata were rural location, urban location and the school located within the Islands, which
had diverse working conditions. However, 29 (30%) of the teachers were randomly sampled for
interviews. The data were collected using questionnaires as well as interview schedules. The study
revealed that teacher transfer requests could be reduced if transport and communication to schools
was improved; electricity and houses were made available to teachers; teachers employed from the
locality and posted next to their families, class sizes were reduced, teacher induction and mentoring
programs encouraged, retention bonuses instituted and teachers involved in decision making at school
level. The study recommended that the government should provide electricity and improve accessibility
in Suba district by improving roads; school boards should facilitate the availability of housing facilities
to teachers. More teachers should be employed through decentralized system to reduce student
teacher ratio. The head teachers and school managements should adopt induction programs to support
new teachers and provide retention bonuses for teachers to make them want to stay longer.
