ABSTRACT

Teacher motivation has become an important issue given their responsibility to impart knowledge and skills to learners. Consequently, this report is a study carried out in Entebbe municipality, in Wakiso district which aimed at studying the relationship between teacher motivation and academic performance of pupils in Universal Primary Education (UPE) Schools. Teacher motivation has been seen to be at its lowest in Entebbe municipality, this stemming from a number of variables ranging from personal variables like age, gender, marital status etc. Situational / organizational variables like salary (pay), supervision, working conditions, company policy, recognition etc. These have greatly contributed to the demonization of teachers and hence a dramatic fall in academic performance of pupils in UPE schools. Wafula (1991) also suggests that among the factors that demean the teaching profession in African countries are poor buildings in which teachers operate. Herman (1999), cited various factors that demotivates workers among which include low salaries, lack of fringe benefits, poor working conditions. In order to improve teacher motivation and performance at work, the study recommended increase in the salary of primary teachers to match the increased cost of living, provision of accommodation to teachers, strengthening of supervision as well as instituting awards for good performance, among others Research findings have found out that the major dernotivators cited by Herman(1999) are predominantly embraced in most UPE schools in Uganda and hence the need to investigate the case of Entebbe municipality in Wakiso District.