PHYSICAL WORK ENVIRONMENT AS CORRELATE OF TEACHERS’ JOB ENGAGEMENT IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

A well-designed physical work environment is crucial to employee productivity and overall job satisfaction. The provision of a conducive work environment invariably improves productivity which in turn would influence the achievement of educational objectives. The study examined physical work environment as correlate of teachers’ job engagement in public secondary schools in Anambra State. One research question guided the study and one null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted correlational research design. The population of the study comprised 12,080 teachers in public secondary schools in six Education Zones in Anambra State. The sample size for the study was 604 teachers drawn from the population of the study. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used for the study. The instruments for data collection were a researcher-structured questionnaire titled: Physical Work Environment Questionnaire (WEQ), and Teachers’ Job Engagement Questionnaire (TJEQ). The instruments were validated by three experts. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha Coefficient method and the average coefficient of 0.80 for WEQ and 0.90 for TJEQ. The data were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The study revealed that physical work environment (r = 0. 878; p < 0.000) positively and significantly relates to teachers’ job engagement in public secondary schools in Anambra State. The study concluded that the physical work environment positively and significantly relate to teachers’ job engagement in public secondary schools in Anambra State. The study, therefore, recommended that well-meaning Nigerians and other stakeholders are encouraged to often assess and help in the maintenance of both classrooms and staff to ensure they meet the needs of teachers.