Teachers' Motivation as Determinants of Their Job Performance in Secondary Schools of Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract Job performance is an unavoidable discourse in workplace discourse and consideration, which can be seen as the essential workplace expectation from staff, or the most significant concept in organizational practice. In the context of classroom teaching and learning, the variables that indicate teacher’s job performance are good teaching, preparation of lesson notes, proper usage of scheme of work, good supervision, classroom management, time management, interpersonal skills (listening, optimism, perceived observation skills and empathy) among others. The competency of teachers and their performance in delivering quality classroom instructions have been questioned in recent times due to highlighted weaknesses in students’ performance in public examinations. The consistent reports on school subjects especially in biology, especially in public examinations (West African Examination Council WAEC) is not encouraging based on chief examiners’ reports (WAEC Chief Examiners’ Report of 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, & 2018). Arising from this report, the need for urgent interventions and research studies in order to salvage the situation for the better direct and indirect improvement in students’ achievement in Biology is inevitable. This research adopted a correlation survey research design. The targeted population for the study comprised 800 Biology teachers in public secondary schools in Lagos State of Nigeria. The study sample comprises 350 Biology teachers selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. The research instruments for the study are Teachers Job Performance Scale (r = 0.859) and Teacher Self-motivation Scale (r = 0.632). The data collected was analyzed using Regression Analysis. Results showed that there is a direct and low relationship between teachers’ motivation and job performance. Also, teachers’ motivation is not a significant determinant of job performance. It was concluded that although teachers’ motivation has a direct and low relationship with job performance, it is not a significant factor for planning and improving teachers’ job performance in Lagos state. Drawing from the conclusion, it was recommended that Teachers should also be motivated by giving them more incentives and making their work environment comfortable. Other teachers’ factors should be reviewed and investigated to determine which one could suitably be useful for planning job performance.