Teacher Motivation for Staying in the Profession: Insights from Myanmar

Examining teacher motivation is critical for the Ministry of Education of Myanmar to ensure the sustainability of its teaching workforce. This research explored the motivational factors that influence teachers’ decisions to remain in the teaching profession. An online survey questionnaire was administered in Myanmar and collected responses from 206 teachers. Descriptive statistics highlighted their views on motivational factors based on the Southeast Asian Framework on Teacher Motivation in Staying in the Profession, while inferential analysis revealed associations between length of teaching and total grade levels taught with motivation to stay. A predictive model was also developed, unveiling a combination of motivational factors and demographic profiles that influence teachers’ decisions to stay. Policy recommendations were proposed as a result of the study.