ABSTRACT

The study was designed to examine the influence of emotional intelligence and job satisfaction on job commitment among secondary school teachers. The independent variables are emotional intelligence and job satisfaction, while job commitment serves as the dependent variable. The study adopted simple random sampling technique to select 572 participants in selected secondary schools in Ojo Area of Lagos State. Three hypotheses were stated and tested. The result of the first hypothesis showed that emotional intelligence is a significant predictor of job commitment among secondary school teachers [r=0.518(P<0.05)]. Job satisfaction is significantly related to job commitment among secondary school teachers [r=0.704 (P<0.05)]. That emotional intelligence and job satisfaction are statistically related to job commitment among secondary school teachers [F = 12.694 (df = 2, 336; P< .01: R² = 0.47). Based on these findings, it was recommended that conferences and workshop should be organized for teachers, students and school administrators to educate them on the importance of proper emotional stability and job satisfaction.

There is evidence indicating that most teachers in most school systems in Nigeria are not satisfied with their jobs, moreover, there is high turnover or drop-in-drop-out syndrome among the teachers. It is also evident that people join the teaching profession as the last resort when all efforts to get into other profession have failed. This phenomenal is however, not unconnected the dynamics of emotional intelligence and job satisfaction.

The workplace of a teacher can be considered as his/her second home. Thus, it is expected that this environment will meet the psychological and mental needs of the teacher in order to get their utmost commitment. According to Ghomri (2009), satisfaction with job plays a key role in increasing productivity, commitment to organisation, and morale of employees. Studies have shown that lack of commitment is one of the reasons why employees leave their jobs. Given the critical role of job satisfaction, failure of school managers to understand their own personal emotions and also understand teachers’ emotions they may not be able to deal effectively with the school teachers and this may lead to poor organisational commitment.

1.3       Purpose of Study

The primary objective of this study is to examine the influence of emotional intelligence and job satisfaction as predictors of job commitment among secondary school teachers. This will be achieved with the following specific objectives:

1.   To examine influence of emotional intelligence on job commitment among secondary school teachers.

2.   To investigate influence of job satisfaction on job commitment among secondary school teachers.

3.   To find out if there is joint influence of emotional intelligence and job satisfaction on job commitment among secondary school teachers.

4.   To examine the relative influence of sex on job commitment.

Relevance of the Study